'Wow!' - Leeds United fan verdict on 'A+' transfer window with immediate impact and 'decks cleared' admission
The YEP jury verdict on Leeds United’s summer transfer window.
Leeds United capped off their summer transfer window with two impressive deadline day loan signings. Melvin Bard and Jean-Matteo Bahoya became signings number six and seven respectively with the Whites splashing around £86million.
Here’s the YEP jury take on another exciting summer of business...
DAVID WATKINS
Wow! For once, the “Don’t go to bed yet!” instruction was worth noting! Leeds announced a seventh addition well after 1am on Wednesday, having already announced earlier that Melvin Bard was joining on loan.
Melvin, a 25-year-old left-back, provides experienced cover, having racked up almost 200 appearances in five seasons in Ligue 1. Number 7 is the exciting young winger Jean-Mattéo Bahoya, joining on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt and, like Melvin, with an option to make the move permanent.
Jean-Mattéo has also had regular game time, having played 69 Bundesliga games over the previous two seasons. Following the news that Willy Gnonto had left for ACF Fiorentina and Largie Ramazani had joined Burnley, a pacey new winger was essential.
This has to be one of the most exciting transfer windows of recent seasons, with the positive, immediate impact already made by James Trafford, Tarik Muharemović, Harry Wilson and Nico Elvedi, and the goalkeeper cover provided by Michael Zetterer.
A central striker would have been the icing, but with Noah Okafor and now Jean-Mattéo too, we seem to have that covered.
Transfer window grade: It’s an A+ from me.
MIKE GILL
Even the most negative Leeds fans would have to admit that this has been one of the most successful transfer windows in recent years. Of the players who have played already, both James Trafford and Tarik Muharemovic look like massive improvements on their talented predecessors.
A lot of fans would not have been too unhappy if Karl Darlow and Pascal Struijk had stayed and that is the highest compliment that you can pay the newcomers. Nico Elvedi looks very useful as well and Harry Wilson is starting to look like a Leeds player.
We can then add a much needed left-back in Melvin Bard and an experienced back up goalkeeper in Michael Zetterer. Last through the door but not least is speed merchant Jean-Matteo Bahoya who seems likely to take part in training ground sprinting contests with the resurgent Dan James.
The other impressive feature of this summer transfer window is the way that the decks have been cleared. Sad to see some of the leavers go, but a lot of dead wood has been disposed of as well. This has been a very impressive book balancing exercise as well as everything else!
Transfer window grade: A.
EVAN SEAMAN
I think that Leeds United have had a very impressive summer as the club have splashed out on some big names like shot-stopper James Trafford for £40m and ball playing defender Tarik Muharemovic for £34m. But Leeds also didn’t sign players for the sake of it and got some real bargains such as midfielder Harry Wilson on a free and brought in Melvin Bard at left-back on loan as cover for the injured Gabriel Gudmundsson.
The Whites managed to get rid of some of the deadwood who had been underperforming like Ilan Meslier, and Lucas Perri. The only disappointing one to leave for me was Pascal Struijk, but Leeds did manage to get a decent fee for him.
Leeds signed seven players in total, with the others being centre-back Nico Elvedi, Michael Zetterer to play as deputy keeper to Trafford, and Jean-Matteo Bahoya as a last-minute signing to replace the outgoing Willy Gnonto. The club also managed to send striker Harry Gray out on loan to Sheffield Wednesday who has good potential for the future, so hopefully he will get some more minutes under his belt.
Transfer window grade: A.
KEITH INGHAM
Nerves were jangling on Monday on social media, mine too as it seemed that the targets Leeds wanted would go elsewhere and we would end up with what we already had. Then ‘out of the blue’ players, (Bard from Nice and Bahoya from Eintracht Frankfurt) not mentioned previously, were signed.
One a highly-sought-after left full/wing back and a winger who would give Dan James 10 yards and still possibly beat him! Personally, I think it’s been a very strong window with quality players replacing some fans' favourites.
James Trafford for me is the top purchase but Tarik Muharemovic isn’t far behind him and that’s £70 million plus for them alone. We’ve also got cover at centre-back and at left-back. The one I expected most from - Harry Wilson - is a ‘slow burner’ and may take time to adapt his game from the way he played at Fulham.
Very late on deadline day the fastest player in the German League – Bahoya – joined, so that’s also a big bonus to that squad. The one area I’d have liked to have seen strengthened was at centre forward. If Dominic Calvert-Lewin is out for a lengthy spell we’d definitely miss him. Lukas Nmecha could fill in, but he’s not a target man. One of the best windows we’ve had in a while.
Transfer window grade: B+.
NEIL GREWER
My hope was that Leeds United would come out of the window stronger than before it opened. Mission accomplished.
I was not expecting seven signings, but I like the profile: two straight into the first XI thus not massively impacting continuity, two competing for the XI and adding quality and options up front, and three providing competitive cover in defence. All signings are an upgrade on those either sold or loaned out.
The club has shown sensible ambition. The budget has not been blown. Loan signings have left Leeds in control of the situation with minimal risk. Melvin Bard is versatile (just what was required) and Jean-Matteo Bahoya will hopefully add creativity. Of the permanent signings, James Trafford and Tarik Muharemovic are already impressing, Nico Elvedi fitted in seamlessly on his debut, Harry Wilson will be quality and the back up keeper comes with a price tag and CV suggesting he will be reliable.
Ideally, I would have liked a Dominic Calvert-Lewin back-up, but realistically Leeds will struggle to find someone of that quality who would accept being a deputy/option and not first choice no 9.
Transfer window grade: B+ (very happy considering constraints).