Leeds United added two new recruits in January, but missed out on the former Middlesbrough striker to Derby County.
Ins: Alfonso Pedraza, Modou Barrow.
Outs: Jack McKay, Luke Murphy, Toumani Diagouraga, Alex Mowatt.
Best arrival: Alfonso Pedraza (Villarreal, loan)
The Spanish winger showed a glimpse of his talent during Sunday’s cameo at Huddersfield Town, and strengthens a position which had been a little on the light side until now. The 20-year-old, who has two Spanish Under-21 caps, has been courted by some of England’s top sides in the past and could be another famous Monk/Clotet find.
Leeds United bound winger Alfonso Pedraza was top target for Everton six months ago
Best departure: Luke Murphy (Burton Albion, loan)
Burton Albion’s Luke Murphy applauds
Of the three senior players to depart, Murphy was the one furthest away from the first team, and his continued presence at Elland Road was doing no-one any favours. The midfielder has two-and-a-half-years to run on his Whites deal and the move will hopefully attract a buyer come the summer.
Where are they still short? Up front
Chris Wood has scored 43 per cent of Leeds’ Championship goals this term, with fellow front-men Souleymane Doukara and Marcus Antonsson responsible for just 14 per cent between them.
Report: Leeds United one of several sides unwilling to meet club’s striker asking price
Another club’s signing who would have been good: David Nugent
The 31-year-old was strongly linked with a move to Elland Road at the start of the month, and allegedly told friends he wanted to join the Whites, only to sign instead for Derby County. Nugent has scored 103 goals in 307 Championship games so far and is a veteran of two promotions from the second tier, which is more than most at Elland Road. That sort of experience could have been invaluable.
Derby’s David Nugent comes on at Elland Road
Overall business rating: 7/10
Good enough to… challenge for the top two. More likely than not, however, it will make Leeds a force to be reckoned with in the end-of-season play-offs.
Could Derby County’s Nugent been the difference for Leeds United?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
