Leeds United know from experience just how damaging a few drawn-out transfer sagas can be.
It took until the end of August last summer before Daniel Farke really knew what the make up of his side would be, with Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville heavily linked with moves.
Joel Piroe, Ilya Gruev and Glen Kamara, meanwhile, only arrived in the final week or so of the window, by which point Leeds had already dropped points against Cardiff, Birmingham City and West Brom.
Points which, if they had claimed for themselves, may have been enough to secure an automatic return to the Premier League.
Farke, then, will be praying that history does not repeat itself this time around. If Leeds are going to lose a star player or two, better to lose them now when there is ample time to bring in adequate replacements.
Though, of course, it would still be better not to lose a star player at all.
Leeds United could lose Glen Kamara to Rennes
Archie Gray has departed already, the apple of Elland Road’s eye joining Tottenham Hotspur to the tune of £35 million.
HITC understands that Gnonto has interest from a Crystal Palace side in the market for a winger after Michael Olise left for Bayern Munich. The 2024 Championship Player of the Year, meanwhile, is on Liverpool’s radar with former Feyenoord boss Arne Slot a confirmed admirer.
HITC have been told there has been talks with the Merseyside giants.
And then there’s the Glen Kamara situation, just to provide an extra dose of uncertainty behind the scenes.
According to Ouest France, the Finland international is nearing a move to Ligue 1 outfit Rennes.
It will not have gone unnoticed by Leeds supporters, meanwhile, that the Brittany-based side may have just opened up space for Kamara in their ranks by agreeing a deal to sell Enzo Le Fee to Roma for around £20 million.
Ligue 1 outfit admit interest in Elland Road ace
Sporting director Frederic Massara, meanwhile, is clearly in no mood to take his time. He wants signings, and he wants them ‘soon’.
“I hope we will finalise some deals soon,” Massara says, via Get France Football News.
The director admits that there is indeed an admiration for Kamara. But he does admit that the one-time Arsenal and Rangers man is not Stade Rennais’ only option in the centre of the park.
“(Kamara) is a Leeds player, a good player,” explains Massara. “Definitely interesting.
“But, of course, we are interested in lots of players, some of which have not yet been revealed and could arrive, even quickly.”
Kamara only joined Leeds last summer after his Rangers contract ran down.
While not the most expansive of footballers, the Arsenal academy graduate is a stable, reliable presence in the centre of the park. For Farke, a manager who prides himself upon a possession-heavy gameplan, Kamara’s patient and sensible use of the ball comes in very handy.
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