Leeds United failed to sign a single player during the January transfer window despite strong links with Cameron Archer on deadline day, and Ross McCormack thinks Leeds missed a trick.
Daniel Farke outlined the need for a striker, a no.10 and a centre-back at Leeds. Priority shifted to a new striker in the final hours of the window with Patrick Bamford injured and Joe Gelhardt joining Hull on loan.
But nothing materialised. It leaves Leeds light up top with Bamford on the sidelines with a hamstring issue and lacking cover for Brenden Aaronson in the 10 role, with Aaronson starting 28 league games in a row.
Leeds failed to sign a single player, while their promotion opponents improved dramatically. Sheffield United made seven additions, while Leeds fans were anxious about Sunderland’s Enzo Le Fee signing.
According to Ross McCormack, Leeds should have signed Marcus Edwards. Burnley has also been busy. Scott Parker has brought in Jonjo Shelvey and Ashley Barnes, spent money on Oliver Sonne and Jaydon Banel, and signed Marcus Edwards on loan from Sporting.
The latter is a true coup. Edwards, who has been compared to Lionel Messi by Mauricio Pochettino on Sky, has shone for Sporting under Ruben Amorim in recent years, shining on the European scene.
Parker helped sign Edwards, reuniting with an old Tottenham teammate. Following the announcement, Ross McCormack said: “It feels like Leeds has been caught sleeping here. “This boy is a serious player.”
Naturally a winger, but Edwards could have handled the No. 10 dilemma.
Edwards has primarily played as a winger for Spurs’ U21 team, Guimaraes, and later Sporting Lisbon. However, the pocket-sized England U21 prodigy possesses the technique and inventiveness to play as a no.10.
Burnley has struggled to score goals recently, but bringing in Edwards will help. Since joining the Portuguese giants Sporting, he has contributed 50 goals in 120 games.
Edwards would have been a fantastic signing for Leeds, and he certainly increases Burnley’s prospects of making an immediate return to the Premier League. However, Leeds failed to make a single signing.
Especially given Burnley’s commitment to make Edwards’ loan a permanent acquisition for a bargain £8 million cost if the Clarets win promotion, according to a Sky Sports report on deadline day.
