Good Morning. It's Thursday 4th September, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Fans puzzled by Okafor signing when creative gaps needed addressing Robbie Evans’s recent comments that Leeds United were already “maxed out” under Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) have left many supporters puzzled, particularly in light of the club’s decision to allocate a reported £16m–18m on Swiss international Noah Okafor. The move has raised eyebrows because Leeds already possess a surplus of left-sided wingers, casting doubt on whether this investment truly addressed the squad’s most pressing needs. While Okafor’s versatility—his ability to operate across the front three—undoubtedly made him an attractive option for the board, the question remains: was this the most efficient use of limited financial resources? If Okafor were demonstrably superior to the wide players currently available, it might be easier to rationalise, however, his profile suggests he is more a solid addition than a transformative figure. Given the glaring lack of depth and reliability in the final third, many would argue that funds should have been directed towards a creative influence. please log in to view this image Leeds will not be turning to free agent market Leeds United managing director Robbie Evans has made it clear that the club will not be turning to the free-agent market to address the club's attacking voids, despite missing out on key targets. While the need for reinforcements in the final third is acknowledged, Evans has expressed a clear preference for patience and strategic planning over a quick, and potentially costly, fix. He confirmed the club will re-evaluate its options closer to Christmas but admitted the overriding goal is to avoid the January transfer window altogether if possible, a sentiment many fans will understand given the club's historically mixed results with mid-season signings. He expressed significant doubt that a player of the required quality is even available, describing the free-agent pool as a market best suited for an emergency injury crises, citing last season’s signing of Josuha Guilavogui as a prime example. "Whether it’s in the window or it’s the free-agent market or it’s January, it’s all about what does the team actually need? What is the opportunity cost, as far as the buy you can’t make later on, or the sale you might have to make out of your current roster? "I don’t think, right now, there’s any need so great it’s worth going to the free-agent market to fill it. In part, because I doubt the right player is there. It’s a great market for injuries. Last year, we brought Josuha (Guilavogui) in. We had an emergency crisis with injuries. "Beyond that, it’s probably wait and see. Once we get through the first 10 games, you’re eight games from January. If you have to evaluate, we’ll use that, but our goal is to avoid January, if possible. There’s a reason we didn’t do a big thing in January last year or the year before. The goal is to be done early. Actually, we got all of our core guys done before the season even began, for that reason. "Not just before deadline day, but actually before August was the goal for the key ones. It’s there, but we don’t see using free agency as a priority because there’s only a handful of players we felt were good enough to begin with, and the pool obviously shrinks dramatically when you go from the entirety of the window, or the players in the window, to the handful of free agents that are available." please log in to view this image None of the current squad members have relegation loan clauses Evans has also moved to reassure fans that the contractual mistakes which haunted the club after its 2023 relegation will not be repeated. In a candid update, he confirmed that none of the current squad members have relegation loan clauses written into their terms. This proved disastrous last time around, allowing players to depart for free and leaving the club with little to show for its investment. Evans acknowledged that every player’s contract is unique, but stressed that the club now operates with far tighter safeguards. This time out they may even read the contracts! "Every player’s contract is different. I can say, categorically, we do not have any relegation loan clauses, which I found to be by far the most catastrophic because you lose the player for nothing. "Some players have relegation sale clauses. All of them are at a price at or above, normally well above, the price we paid for them. And many of them don’t. "So it’s a person to person basis, based on their leverage, but I’m pretty confident, to a man, any player that comes down, either we will be in control of their sale or not, or, if they’re sold, I’m comfortable with the return they’ll have generated to make it worth our while to have them leave." please log in to view this image
Morning all. Great to see these positive messages coming out of our club.. Was lost for words.. great we done have any relegation clauses - YAY! Not going out to get free agents? I think we could get one at the very least, take another gamble, just like we've done on most of our new signings.. Why not have another one!? Our front line needs to start scoring asap, otherwise we are doomed imo.. Unless we end up being a 0-0 team all the time (Which is better than losing all the time at least).
Morning all If we have spent all of our allowance, why did we sign two new CBs and why Longstaff and Stach when there were more pressing areas If we went for Paxiao he was supposedly in excess of £30m yet Okafor was far less, none of it makes sense so you assume someone like Struijk was going to be sold or both himself and Grueve/Tanaka and nobody came in for them I think on promotion day one the plan was how much we would get for Harrison, Wober, Joseph, Bamford, Meslier, Joffy and Gyabi - Simple word for that plan was naivety Something doesn't add up but not worth fretting about, we can't change it
Carefully worded statement that. No release “loan” clauses, which doesn’t mean that there aren’t any release fee sell on agreements in place. But agree, a really negative spin on the season ahead from the club.
Okafor signing - only time will tell. You never know, he could get 1 goal in every 3 games alongside DCL doing similar and we won’t need to worry about a thing. Then it means we need Gnoto or James (Even Harrison and Aaronson) to step up or we know who we’re looking at selling and what area to strengthen next summer if we stay up. They aren’t lying about the free agent market (assumed it might just be a negotiation tactic) as we’ve got Meslier in the 25 man squad so we can’t sign anyone unless we release someone (if we were going to release any of the squad we’d have done it prior to the transfer window closing like we have with Bamford). That’s actually really good news re the relegation clauses. We either keep players if no one wants them or get a fair value, much better. Also means players we’ve got actually want to be here and shouldn’t down tools at any stage looking for an easy exit. I do think it’s slightly overblown this transfer saga. Do we need more players? Yes. Did we try get the best available? I think so. Did we hit PSR limits? I actually think we were pretty close. We’ve had 2 clean sheets from the first 3 games which is clear signs to suggest that the Perri, Gudmundsson, Stach & Longstaff signings were worthwhile (Even Nmecha to an extent as he’s done his bit with winning free kicks and holding up the ball defensively). Therefore that shows good signs that the recruitment team have things right so we need to believe they’ve got it right about Okafor & DCL as we’ve not seen loads of either. Then we can go again with improving again next year.
I was a little surprised we didn't look at Danny Ings, who has signed for Sheffield Utd on a 1 year deal. Yes, he's injury prone, but so is Calvert-Lewin.
Just putting this out there about Okafor. Top tier leagues, Champions League, International appearances for the most part. As a left winger, 19 goals, 9 assists in 87 appearances. As a right winger (yes, he can play right), 10 goals, 7 assists in 49 appearances. As a striker (yes he plays as a striker), 26 goals, 16 assists in 79 games. If we can get this lad back in shape and fit he has proven he can score and assist at the very highest level. I get that Premier League is a different beast to Italy and Germany but if we can get him going then he is more capable than anything else we have on the books. Depends if Farke can reinvigorate him and get that fire burning inside. He let himself get overweight at AC Milan which caused him issues. Conte at Napoli didnt use him often but he certainly got him in shape hopefully for us to benefit this year. He looked in good nick against us in Ireland.
Emu has nailed his colours firmly to the mast of the good ship Okafor. Let's hope she sails well, doesn't spring too many leaks and the captain doesn't get toothache. Jokes aside he has ability, let's hope he has the hunger and a run of good health.
What they all choose to ignore was that the loan clauses were done TO get the players off the books. Like them, don't like them, there was a logic to them. 60% pay cut or bugger off if we go down. Then we'll have you back when we've bounced back up. Those players would never have agreed to 60% pay cuts (thats way above normal cuts) without the loan clauses... and with Radz in charge they obviously couldn't afford to keep the players without massive pay cuts. He was skint. Always easy to blame the guys before.
It appears he’s also a cool head when taking penalties. And he’s often the one to clear the ball away when we’re defending a corner. Decent freebie imo.
Thats it in a nutshell. I'd also say that Okafor is a signing Farke was very happy with given he spoke to him at length after the Milan friendly. Its up to Farke to get the best out of him.
That was what I thought the plan was. Can't run PL team wages in the Champ unless you're coming straight back up.
