Leeds United boss Garry Monk was reportedly ‘annoyed’ in January.
Leeds manager Garry Monk
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds United boss Garry Monk was ‘annoyed’ with the delay in signing wingers Alfonso Pedraza and Modou Barrow in January.
The Whites are pushing for promotion to the Premier League after a superb campaign under Monk, and many expected them to be busy in the January transfer window to help give them a final push.
However, Leeds were quiet in the opening weeks of the window, as the focus was instead on outgoings, with Alex Mowatt and Luke Murphy heading to Championship rivals Barnsley and Burton Albion respectively, before Toumani Diagouraga joined Ipswich Town on loan.
As transfer deadline day started six weeks ago, Leeds were still waiting for their first arrival, but did manage to get a deal over the line as Spanish winger Alfonso Pedraza ended his spell with Lugo, and joined Leeds on loan from Villarreal.
One addition became two in the final hours of the January transfer window, as Swansea City winger Modou Barrow – who worked with Monk in South Wales – reunited with the Leeds boss by penning a loan deal at Elland Road until the end of the season.
Whilst a new striker to support Chris Wood didn’t arrive, Barrow and Pedraza were two exciting additions out wide for Leeds – but Monk was allegedly ‘annoyed’ with the club’s January business.
Leeds’ Alfonso Pedraza celebrates scoring against Birmingham City
The Yorkshire Evening Post claim that Monk wasn’t frustrated with the club’s spending, but rather annoyed with the delay in signing both Pedraza and Barrow, as he wanted them in earlier to help them settle in at Elland Road.
So far, Pedraza has started just three games for Leeds, but did score in a substitute appearance against Birmingham City, whilst Barrow hasn’t started at all, and has played just 84 minutes across four substitute appearances.
Monk’s fears that they arrived too late may be justified based on those stats, but with a play-off campaign almost certainly on the horizon, there is still like for both Barrow and Pedraza to make a huge impact on Leeds’ season.
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