Leeds United’s insane £156m transfer window predicted including Spurs, Rangers and Burnley deals
The summer transfer window has already been a hectic one for Daniel Farke and Leeds United.
Following their defeat against Southampton in last season’s Championship play-off final, the Whites have been forced into some difficult decisions as they look to contend with the financial impact of facing a second successive season in the second tier. Academy graduate Archie Gray has been sold to Tottenham Hotspur in a £35m move that was described as a ‘heartbreaking’ decision by the Elland Road hierarchy.
He is far from alone in leaving the club as the likes of Glen Kamara, Charlie Cresswell, Diego Llorente and Robin Koch have all departed since the end of last season. There have been new additions with Joe Rodon making a permanent switch to Elland Road after spending last season on loan with the Whites and Jayden Bogle making the switch across Yorkshire from Sheffield United.
But what other business could Farke conduct before the transfer window slams shut? We fire up Football Manager 2024 to see how the world’s most popular managerial simulation predicts the next month will play out at Elland Road.
Goalkeepers
The only addition to Farke’s goalkeeping options was the real-life signing of Alex Cairns as he returned to Elland Road from Salford City. The same can be said of the only departure as Kristoffer Klaesson joined Polish side Rakow on a free transfer.
Farke’s goalkeeping options: Meslier, Darlow, Cairns
Defenders
Although there were no additional departures to the ones the actual Farke has overseen over the last six weeks, there were two new additions to the virtual Whites squad. Both came in full-back positions as Cameron Pring was signed in a £6m deal from Championship rivals Bristol City and Turkey international Zeki Celik joined on a season-long loan from Serie A giants Roma
Farke’s defensive options: Struijk, Wober, Rodon, Cooper, Celik, Pring, Byram, Bogle
Midfielders
There were two eye-catching additions to Farke’s midfield ranks as the Whites boss spent over £20m to boost his options in the middle of the park. Firstly, the Whites boss went back to Serie A to sign Salernitana star Lassana Coulibaly in a £6m move before Burnley midfielder Sander Berge was snapped up in a £16m deal. There was one departure as Ilya Gruev moved north of the border to join Rangers in a £3m switch.
Farke’s midfield options: Ampadu, Rothwell, Aaronson, Coulibaly, Berge
Forwards
Now there were some big changes in the final third but maybe it would be safe to say that they were not the changes some would have expected. Firstly, the good news as Crysenico Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto have remained as part of Farke’s squad and will spearhead the push for a return to the Premier League. However, Joel Piroe and Georgino Rutter have moved on to Real Mallorca and Wolfsburg respectively and have swelled the coffers with £43m in funds. The one new addition at the top end of the pitch was Tottenham Hotspur youngster Will Lankshear, who joins on a season-long loan deal with no option for a permanent switch.
Farke’s forward options: Summerville, Gnonto, James, Bamford, Gelhardt, Joseph, Lankshear
Ins
Joe Rodon (£8m from Spurs), Jayden Bogle (£5m from Sheffield United), Alex Cairns (free from Salford City), Joe Rothwell (loan from Bournemouth), Zeki Celik (loan from Roma), Lassana Coulibaly (£6m from Salernitana), Will Lankshear (loan from Spurs), Sander Berge (£16m from Burnley), Cameron Pring (£6m from Bristol City)
Outs
Archie Gray (£35m to Spurs), Luis Sinisterra (£18m to Bournemouth), Glen Kamara (£7m to Rennes), Marc Roca (£3m to Real Betis), Diego Llorente (£2m to Real Betis), Charlie Cresswell (£3m to Toulouse), Robin Koch (free to Eintracht Frankfurt), Cody Drameh (free to Hull City), Jamie Shackleton (free to Sheffield United), Luke Ayling (free to Middlesbrough), Ian Poveda (free to Sunderland), Rasmus Kristensen (loan to Eintracht Frankfurt), Sam Greenwood (loan to Preston North End), Darko Gyabi (loan to Plymouth Argyle), Sonny Perkins (loan to Leyton Orient), Ilya Gruev (£4m to Rangers), Joel Piroe (£6m to Real Mallorca), Georgino Rutter (£37m to Wolfsburg)
