It hasn’t exactly been an easy few months for Leeds United since the football calendar restarted this summer – and fans think they know who is to blame.
The transfer window has been a turbulent one for the Whites, with a host of last season’s relegated players choosing to leave the club rather than stay on and fight in the Championship, leaving Daniel Farke with a big job on his hands as he tries to rebuild the squad.
That situation would normally be made easier by the bumper transfer kitty that usually follows a mass exodus. Southampton are thought to have raked in around £130 million from the sales of players like James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia, while Leicester City have done well from the sales of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.
According to Transfermarkt, the equivalent figure for Leeds stood at around £4m prior to Tyler Adams’ move to Bournemouth. That’s mainly due to the glut of loan clauses inserted into players contracts, allowing players to move elsewhere for a paltry loan fee.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed among the fanbase. Considering both results on the pitch and business off it, a poll conducted by Leeds Live found that 78% of supporters are concerned about the start to the campaign, while over half consider the club to be in ‘turmoil’.
For that, one man is shouldering the blame from the Elland Road faithful. When asked who was at fault for the situation, 44% of Whites fans believe Victor Orta to be the main culprit, with frustration over the club’s exit policy clearly showing.
A further 38% blamed wantaway players on the turbulent summer. An entire starting eleven could be built out of the players Leeds have lost since the end of last season, while only four new faces have been brought in to fill the gaps.
And as the transfer deadline draws nearer, supporters have sent a clear brief to the powers that be over who the club should be targeting over the next fortnight. When asked what changes need to be made at the club, half of the respondents felt the club should bring in more experience, with a further 42% wanting to see at least one statement signing made.