It’s really very difficult not to feel sorry for Leeds United.
Despite a cracking first season back in the Premier League last term, this time the Whites have been flirting with the relegation zone for pretty much the entire campaign, hovering around 16th and 17th for the majority.
One big reason for that is, as ever, injuries.
Patrick Bamford sat out three months from September to December to when he was your leading goalscorer last season, that’s a massive blow.
And with personnel like Kalvin Phillips sidelined these days, well the knocks keep coming for Marcelo Bielsa and co – and now there’s another one.
Leeds’ misfortune extends into the transfer window, even.
Collapsed transfer
Ola Aina has been heavily linked with a transfer to Elland Road in recent weeks.
And momentum was majorly gathering when Torino signed a replacement for the Londoner, Mohamed Fares.
According to Calciomercato at the time, that addition was set to pave the way for Aina – valued at £9 million – join the West Yorkshire outfit before the month is out.
However, Fares picked up an injury for Algeria at Africa Cup of Nations and Toro in Italy has reported that because of the severity of the problem – an anterior cruciate ligament issue – Aina’s proposed move to Leeds has now been ‘blocked’.
The report confirms that United had ‘courted’ the player, who was open to a return to England but, with Fares out for the rest of the season, unfortunately Bielsa must identify alternative targets.
It really is rotten luck for a team who, as mentioned, have been in short supply of good fortune.
With 12 days left in the transfer window, it remains to be seen if Bielsa and Victor Orta can find an alternative target after this awful development.
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