Now that we *appear* to be heading towards a takeover that might deliver us an owner with more than sixpence to spend on the club, I would dearly love for us to be able to start actually buying players with a transfer fee rather than relying on freebies and loans (yes, I know we spent £500k on Jason Pearce but that was presumably down to Uncle Ken's emerging dementia). Looking at players out of contract in 2013, and therefore likely to be sold or be open to offers by their club, I would love us to have a punt at the following players: Chris Gunter and/or Eric Lichaj - £1m each, good young fullbacks with pace and potential Matthew Kilgallon - £1-1.5m although wages would be high, but a solid, Premiership quality defender who we should never have sold! Michael Johnson - £1m, Leeds fan and would add some grace to our midfield Jay Bothroyd - £750-000-1m - Proven Championship goalscorer Rob Hulse - £500,000-750,000 - Ditto Anymore for anymore?
Johnson's on a massive downward spiral at the moment and wasn't good enough for Leicester and I think Hulse is getting a bit past it, as much as I like him. Lichaj/Gunter and Kilgallon though, definitely, although it looks like getting Peltier will rule out a move for another right back. I'd love to see us have a go at getting Peter Whittingham as a marquee signing, although that's probably a bit far-fetched.
I would look to loan Kilgallon for the first half of the season and see how he does, he is not worth more that 500k-600k with less than a year remaining. Michael Johnson proved his doubters right at Leicester and is a very big risk. I would take a shot as he has the skill, but I can not see anyone paying a fee for him....
Fair enough. I'd love for us to go for a couple of big marquee signings - why not? Basically, if this is the team we send out to play Wolves on the first day of the season, I will love our new owners for ever and ever. Kenny Gunter Pearce Kilgallon White Green Clayton Snodgrass McCormack Whittingham Zaha
The one thing Leeds have failed to do in recent years in picking up the best players off local teams.... We should scouting the local teams and be targeting players early in their careers like Craig Dawson (Rochdale) Tom Cleverley (Bradford), Adam Le Fondre (Rotherham) & Jacob Butterfield (Barnsley). If we get investment I want to see us start signing and even loaning back players with potential from the local lower leagues teams, before others get the best local talent.
