Unless you have been living under a rock it will not have escaped your attention that Leeds United have endured a tricky transfer window this summer.
Which is why it is so crucial that in terms of incoming there can be absolutely no missteps for Daniel Farke as he plots an immediate route back to the Premier League.
And it looks as though they may have dodged a bullet with one previous link, as Newcastle United winger Ryan Fraser is seemingly on his way to join Championship rivals Southampton on loan.
Sky Sports reported (25 August) Fraser is having a medical at St Mary’s Stadium and Newcastle manager Eddie Howe confirmed at a press conference on Friday that he is set for the exit door.
“There may be something with Ryan happening regarding Southampton. Apart from that, that’s all I know at the minute,” Howe said in quotes reported by the Shields Gazette.
It feels important to say at this juncture that the bullet dodged is not a slight on Fraser’s quality in the slightest, he has been a very good Premier League operator for a number of years and was once linked with Liverpool.
But the truth of it is, he just hasn’t played a great deal of football lately. He made only Premier League appearances last term, only three of those as a starter, and his last taste of top-flight action was way back in October 2022.
Throw in the fact that Fraser will turn 30 in February and there is a perfect storm of reasons as to why this is a move that Leeds were probably better off avoiding.
It felt like a risk of a signing, and hey who know he might absolutely tear it up for Southampton. But for Leeds and Farke these are not times to be taking risks and moves for Genk forward Joseph Paintsil and Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking midfielder Nadiem Amiri feel way more in keeping with signing young, hungry talent.
Essentially, this just feels like a good outcome for Southampton, a good outcome for Fraser, and – most importantly – a good outcome for Leeds.