Leeds’ transfer window deemed hit-and-miss after multiple late collapses as club seeks solutions up front

Leeds United’s summer transfer window has been described by people close to the club as a “good window” marred by a chaotic final day, after repeated late collapses on targets left the squad short of the attacking reinforcements manager Daniel Farke publicly demanded.

The Elland Road hierarchy pursued a string of targets — including Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz and Harry Wilson, Feyenoord’s Igor Paixão and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte — but ended the window with several near-misses and departures that left questions over where the goals will come from this season.

Leeds began the summer with a clear intent to strengthen, completing seven signings by the end of pre-season in Germany for a combined reported outlay of about �A390 million. The club later added Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free and Noah Okafor for a reported �A318 million, bringing the total summer activity to around 10 incomings and more than �A3100 million spent, according to sources close to the club.

But the window unravelled in stages. Leeds submitted a reported �A332 million bid for Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz in June that was rejected. On deadline day, talks over Fulham midfielder Harry Wilson — seen by Leeds as a winger who could also play No. 10 — collapsed after Fulham told Leeds the player was not for sale. Feyenoord accepted an offer from Marseille for Paix�E3o after his camp favoured a move to France, and Buonanotte, who had been linked with Leeds and even had a flight booked to West Yorkshire and a scheduled medical, ultimately joined Chelsea on loan.

Club officials characterised the closing hours as “a bad day at the end of a good window.” Managing director Robbie Evans told media the club had “unequivocally maxed out PSR” and had “spent everything they could,” while acknowledging they had tried to recruit Wilson. The board said further incoming additions would likely have required selling a high-value player to comply with financial rules and preserve future transfer flexibility.

Farke, who warned in pre-season that Leeds were “not prepared for a long Premier League season,” repeatedly called for more attacking options as the Premier League campaign began. Leeds’ early results were mixed: a 1-0 home win over Everton secured by a Lukas Nmecha penalty, a goalless draw with Newcastle, and a heavy 5-0 defeat at Arsenal. Those matches underlined the squad�E2�80�99s need for goals and creativity in the final third.

The club made structural changes to the squad as well: Patrick Bamford had his contract terminated and Largie Ramazani moved on loan to Valencia. Joel Piroe, who scored prolifically in the Championship in recent seasons, faces significant questions about his ability to translate that form to the top flight. Calvert-Lewin brings Premier League experience and past double-figure seasons but has scored sparingly in recent years and carries a history of fitness issues. Lukas Nmecha, a free signing from Wolfsburg, has provided Leeds’ only league goal so far from the penalty spot.

Outgoings were limited. Attacking midfielder Sam Greenwood left for Polish side Pogon Szczecin for a reported �A33.5 million; otherwise the club retained its core group. Illan Meslier, who lost the No. 1 shirt last season and is considered down the pecking order, remained at the club despite effectively becoming fourth-choice in Farke�E2�80�99s hierarchy.

Leeds�E2�80�99 recruitment structure sits with chairman Paraag Marathe, managing director Robbie Evans, Farke, new sporting director Adam Underwood and head of recruitment Alex Davies. Club officials and supporters are expected to scrutinise that group after the late-window setbacks, although internal voices defended their earlier business and stressed that January remains an opportunity to address deficiencies even if Evans had previously said the club aimed to avoid January activity if possible.

With a limited transfer haul addressing the club�E2�80�99s clear need for a proven Premier League goalscorer, Leeds have started to consider other remedies. The coaching staff have flagged the need for set-piece improvement given the squad�E2�80�99s height and physicality, and the club is in the process of recruiting a specialist set-piece coach. The playing calendar offers a mix of winnable fixtures and stern tests: Leeds do not face last season�E2�80�99s top eight again until November, but a cluster of fixtures including Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool within a short period in December, followed by Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle at the turn of the year, represents a testing sequence.

Leeds travel to Fulham this weekend to face both Muniz and Wilson, a match that underlines how close the window came to altering the club�E2�80�99s attacking options. Club officials insist the summer�E2�80�99s work gives Farke a platform, while acknowledging the window ended with missed opportunities that will influence recruitment priorities going into January and beyond.