After Victor Orta’s disastrous 2017 recruitment drive, it appears that Championship giants Leeds United are embarking on a new approach at Elland Road.
Reports that Leeds United are planning a triple swoop for three of Paul Heckingbottom’s former players might have fans hoping that this is a sign that the much-maligned director of football Victor Orta has lost some of his power.
Orta has been subject to intense criticism over the last few months with Leeds’ season crumbling. The vast majority of the players brought to Elland Road from overseas by the transfer guru have flopped spectacularly and even Samu Saiz, the only relative success, has not scored a Championship goal in four months.
Orta’s remit last summer appeared to revolve around signing under-the-radar talents on cheap deals, leading him to shop in lesser known markets like Sweden, Albania and the second tiers of Spain and Holland.
But recent signs suggest that, with Caleb Ekuban, Jay-Roy Grot, Ezgjan Alioski and co struggling to settle in English football, Leeds will look a little closer to home for bargains.
As reported by the Sun (18 March, page 60), Leeds are keen to land Barnsley right-back Andy Yiadom on a free when his contract expires while Oli McBurnie and Joe Williams – who Heckingbottom brought to Oakwell on loan from Swansea and Everton respectively – could either be available on temporary or affordable deals.
There are bargains to be had in English football and it may just have taken a disastrous 2017 transfer window for Leeds to realise that.
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