03 Aug 2026 21:04:04
The whole Brandt saga has left a big big transfer impact on Leeds.
Were Leeds budgeting for the free transfer and are now in a bit of stuck?
Were we relying on this free transfer so we could fill other squad gaps?
I believe Leeds thought they had Brandt sewn up especially with the salary they offered.

Now we most likely will have to pay 30 plus for a similar playmaker which will obviously affect other transfer positions.

1.) 03 Aug 2026
03 Aug 2026 21:23:08.
Corkey.. We need BA (Baracus not Aaronson) and the A Team Lads.

To sort out this increasingly problematic, messy window. ?

..Or a savvy Director of Football.

2.) 04 Aug 2026
03 Aug 2026 23:45:29
Personally, I think the central playmaker was a luxury attempt this window. Great if we can do it, not the top priority.

Goalkeeper.
2nd goalkeeper.
Left back.
Striker.
Playmaker.

Would be my order for needs.

Wilson is natural wide, capable of centre, and Aaronson is the opposite. I think it's a case of working out the best place to use one or both of them (if Wilson and James build a good understanding it could be James wide, Wilson central and Aaronson from the bench) .

The one exception for playmaker moving up the list would be Zian Flemming signing, who is a hybrid 9/10.



Otherwise Brandt was like Amiri a couple seasons ago. If we can do it it's a coup but a long shot and like Amiri didn't seem to really want to come anyway.

People will moan that we wasted time chasing him, but I think it was fair to put an offer on the table, especially for a free agent of his calibre. I think once he hadn't signed, shortly after looking around, ownership will have got the gist: he's a maybe, but don't plan on him signing now, and moved on.

3.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 08:20:45
What problematic, messy window, Baz? We are on the outside looking through blacked out windows, with only chaff and click bait to view, so how on earth do we know the real situation/targets etc? I would suggest wait til the end of the window, then see where we are.

4.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 08:51:28
What Vid said, none of us know actual targets for sure, so let's wait and see instead of having an unnecessary moan.

1 thing I do know, if we are including Meep Meep in Seez's plans, then we are asking for miracles.

How many more chances do we need to give him that Man U, Fulham, and ourselves haven't already given him?

He's a champo on his best day.

I won't reiterate my take on Baracus.

5.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 08:52:27
But Vid, Baz is only giving balance to the site.
Unfortunately, every closed season is a shambolic mess that can only be cured with heads rolling.
This window is coming together quite well, once the Trafford signing is completed.

If our incomings this summer mirror the effectiveness of those from last summer's disastrous debacle, then we will have moved forward quite nicely between S1 and S2 back in the EPL. More positive steps upward and forward!

6.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 09:01:30
Davey, yep ofc re end of window ?, which is soon, I might add.

From my perspective, the window became messy for LUFC, with the club not being able to keep Darlow at the club.

It's meant we have needed to sign not just one but two new keepers.

With one of them possibly costing £45 million, which likely impacts budget for other signings, including, for me, a vital striker signing.

Just a paltry 2 signings so far in 7 weeks of the window, Davey. Just 4 weeks remain. It's not looking that smooth, bruv.

7.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 09:46:44
Certainly not a messy window; on the contrary, it's a very good one, especially when Trafford puts on his Leeds jersey.
Not all targets will choose our club, and to think they always will is very naive.
I'm still confident that there will be another, perhaps three, signings before the window closes.
So far, so good.

8.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 10:02:07
Can you elaborate on your reasoning for a striker being more important than a keeper, please, Baz?

Romance? Goals win matches?

Over half the teams in the EPL didn't score 50 goals last season. Sunderland finished 7th on 42 goals.

We conceded 56, and only Spuds and the relegated teams conceded more. The reason West Ham went down over Spurs is goals conceded, as they were only two goals apart on goals scored.

Peri was dropped, and rightly so, after Newcastle away, and Darlow did a solid job. But, other than West Ham, you line up the bottom teams' keepers and all are superior to Karl.

I think it's brilliant we are aiming to buy the best young English keeper in the league. If he reduces our goals against further, last year's table shows there is a direct correlation between league position and goals conceded.



DCL being injured, I concede, is a strong argument for a new striker, but who will want to come to us on a second-season fight, knowing they will almost certainly be second choice to DCL?

Namecheck has looked good, was free, and is happy to fulfil the role, but I'm all in favour of another at the right age, price, and attitude.

Zian Fleming would, I believe, be good, and he's not ridiculously priced. Let the window play out again before commencing the autopsy, but a keeper is just as important as any striker, even more so in lesser-fancied teams with less financial clout and pull.

9.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 10:24:06
Hi Class, .if and when Trafford signs, it will be interesting to know the details of the contract, re potential buy back clause and also release clause before deciding just how great a deal this is or not.

Yes ofc a good keeper is important. and they are out there for very reasonable transfer fees.

But for me, signing a good striker is even more important, as Leeds got very lucky with injuries last season.

both DCL and Nmecha are injury prone, and Farke very rarely uses Piroe, as he seemingly isn't up to EPL level.

Striker gems, that don't cost a fortune, are out there imo if recruitment and scouting are up to it, e.g. both Brentford and Bournemouth do the great value striker signings very well indeed, then later sell them on for huge profit.

10.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 10:41:39
Name the reasonably priced keepers you want, Baz, along with the striker gems that don't cost a fortune.
We can then see how they do next season compared with who we buy.

11.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 10:43:13
It's probably this scrutiny from esteemed Baz that is holding up the Trafford deal. Our recruitment team sweating over ever contract detail, with the constant nagging doubt as to whether or not its going to pass Baz's exacting standards!

On any given day Baz you flip flop - last week, we were "just pay the extra" to get the deal done."what is a couple of million? " This week, when the club is on the brink of paying what is necessary to get the deal done, it's back to there are cheaper options out there.

Baz is Aldi mode this week as we now should be seeking out Striker Gems.

Was DCL a "Striker Gem" Baz?

12.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 10:59:14
I am not in LUFC recruitment and scouting dept, Canada, but are you suggesting that such players aren't out there?

Sunderland did well last seez, signing a good keeper in Roefs, who cost them a mere £9 million.



Brentford signed Mbuemo for a bargain £ 6 million, and sold him for a whopping £71 million.

Even Leeds did well, signing super Raphinha for a shrewd £17 million, selling him for £55 million.

13.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 11:07:40
Ani, the fine details of a buy-back clause or release clause are important in the context of how good a deal is.

Yep. Paying a couple of million extra is fine if it gets the deal over the line.

14.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 11:23:44
Thing is, Baz, is it better to get a great deal or a great player?

Would you turn down Trafford because of the deal, or would you like probably the best young English keeper presently?

We will never know anything about the deal in any event, so there seems little merit in debating it.

Suffice to say, it only matters to those involved in the deal and how they complete it.

In business, the best deal is the one you can get.

15.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 11:40:58
No doubting Brentford, Bournemouth or indeed Brighton's scouting prowess; Baz, Thiago and Kroupi are excellent examples.

And, no argument from me over fitness concerns over our current strikers, but if you have the chance to sign England's future number 1 keeper, why wouldn't you.

And, I'm sure all Leeds United supporters are incredulous that prospects choose one of the above clubs over ourselves. Sadly, experience has shown us the bright lights of London and the south coast appear to be a more attractive draw, especially for players with families.



I hope our metric based recruitment improves things, but it will take time. Of greater concern is where are the raft of strikers coming through the academy; HG not ready yet, and Joseph not epl level, imo, sadly.

There's lots of rough diamonds out there, however. Picking the right ones that still retain our side before self togetherness (Cree wasn't) is the really tricky bit.

Powder dry. Let's see what we have at the end of the window. Always better to get the best option as opposed to the quickest one.

16.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 12:02:34
Ani, see my post at 9.01am in thread re huge £45 million outlay on a gk potentially impacting on what funds are left for other vital recruitment positions in the window.

Good, fair follow up post, Class, as ever.

Anyways, chaps, enjoyable debate as ever.

Cheers.

17.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 12:53:03
I'm suggesting you're all talk Baz. Whenever you complain lots and are asked to name names you won't!
You keep believing you know better fella, if that rocks your boat.

18.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 13:39:52
Canada, .. I can assure you I don't think that necessarily.

I am a Leeds fan of 6 decades, merely giving my opinion on a myriad of subjects. .. that's all.

Enjoy your day, fella.

19.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 14:14:42
Baz is 100% correct in that we need another striker. It would be foolhardy not to sign a number 9, especially with DCL and Nmecha potentially picking up injuries, and Piroe deemed not good enough.

20.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 17:42:17
4 weeks left, within the context of it being a World Cup season, is not "soon"!

21.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 18:01:50
Is your context going to change the number of days remaining, Bright? No. 4 weeks will be over in a flash.

22.) 04 Aug 2026
04 Aug 2026 20:22:02
No. Nor will it change the fact that, in the eyes of most, a lot can and will happen in that time, and that 4 weeks is still plenty, as well as a hell of a lot better than 4 days!