Veteran West Ham United goalkeeper Darren Randolph was denied the chance to join Premier League rivals Aston Villa or Leeds on loan in the January transfer window, as reported by The Athletic.
As far as Leeds United are concerned, there’s not really a lot of point in a short-term January signing.
Marcelo Bielsa would rather promote a budding youngster from the U23s, one well-versed in his very distinct style of play, than bring in a new face after all.
Furthermore, while other top-flight managers would have few qualms about throwing a winter arrival straight in at the deep end, Bielsa sees things differently.
Imagine, for example, that Leeds had taken up the opportunity to sign Donny Van de Beek on loan from bitter rivals Manchester United.
Given that Bielsa is famously reluctant to give new signings their chance until they know his football like the back of their hand, we might have been waiting until March or even later for the Dutchman to make his first start at Elland Road.
Darren Randolph, however, is a different sort of player, and a different sort of target.
Why did West Ham not let Darren Randolph go?
The 34-year-old, unlike Van de Beek, wouldn’t have arrived in West Yorkshire expecting to start games immediately. If at all, for that matter.
The experienced Irishman would instead have acted as a reliable back-up for Leeds’ number one, the flawed yet fabulously talented Illan Meslier.
Bielsa’s current second-choice goalkeeper, 21-year-old Kristoffer Klaesson, is yet to make his senior debut for the club.
According to The Athletic, West Ham blocked a potential loan move for Randolph however. Aston Villa were also rebuffed, Steven Gerrard’s side turning their attention to former Everton glovesman Robin Olsen instead.
“I have no intention of letting Darren go,” West Ham boss David Moyes told the Standard on January 13.
“As far as I’m concerned, all we received was a loan (offer). I can’t see why I would ever let Darren Randolph go on loan. There’s nothing any more than that. So that’s the situation.”
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