Victor Orta outlines January transfer window difficulties, says Leeds United must be 'really clever'

Victor Orta has admitted Leeds United will need to be ‘really clever’ in the winter transfer market, outlining the difficulties that January poses for the club.

The Whites’ sporting director oversaw a record-breaking summer of player recruitment at Elland Road just a few months ago.

Transfer spending in LS11 neared the £100m mark following Championship promotion, which signalled the arrival of four headline signings - including a club record fee of £27m being splashed out.

Valencia forward and Spain’s number nine Rodrigo was the capture of intent from the Mestalla, while fellow international defender Diego Llorente (£20m) also made the move from La Liga outfit Real Sociedad.

Centre-back Robin Koch (£14m) arrived from the Bundesliga with the ex-Freiburg man harbouring hopes of boosting his chances of featuring for Germany with Premier League appearances on his CV.

The 24-year-old’s endeavours have proved successful so far. Leeds almost landed Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Cuisance but, after a late change of heart, opted for Stade Rennes winger Raphinha for £17m on deadline day.

United have made a quick adjustment to life in the top flight under head coach Marcelo Bielsa, having bagged 11 points from their opening nine games.

A busy festive period awaits on the horizon for Leeds’ first-team squad and the new year signals another opportunity to bring reinforcements to West Yorkshire for the latter part of the campaign.

Orta, who remains the trusted man to supply Bielsa with his on-pitch needs, has revealed his belief that United will need to tread carefully in the upcoming transfer window.

Problems in the month-long market are rife and risky for business, and that’s before considering the recent financial struggles imposed on football across the world by the pandemic.

“For me firstly, it’s [about] availability,” Orta told The Yorkshire Evening Post.

“You go to a player who is playing in a lower division, or you go for a player who is not playing in your division or at another level, it is a risk.

“The availability of the players is limited by that. Obviously, the way to choose is limited, so you [can’t always] make a proper choice [in January].

“The situation with economics is strange. I think people want to sell - but don’t sell because they need to buy. They don’t want to spend. It makes it a strange market again.

“I am not a proper fan of the January market, I [have] always said that. The stats say the same about our business in the winter market [recently].”

Despite the mounting issues that Premier League recruiters face this coming winter, Orta hasn’t ruled out the possibility of making a move should a player become available for the right price.

“We need to be really clever,” he continued.

“If one option appears, who we think clearly improves the squad, obviously [we need to] be ready to make [an offer].

“Now, I trust a lot the squad we have, I trust a lot the ways of our staff in living for Marcelo. [The] winter market is a circumstance and one we need to evaluate carefully.”

Victor Orta was speaking to the Yorkshire Evening post at the unveiling of Leeds United's new Kalvin Phillips mural based at The Calls in the city centre. Read about the club's new partnership with Roc Nation here