Why the loan market is 'limited' for Leeds

Leeds United's managing director Robbie Evans says the Premier League loan market is limited, particularly after Chelsea hijacked their move for Facundo Buonanotte from Brighton on transfer deadline day.

"There's not that many players who are being looked at to be lent out by their current teams that fit what we needed," Evans told BBC Radio Leeds.

"You'll notice our team is largely mid-20s experienced professionals that can come in and play on day one. It's pretty rare that somebody's youth player would be useful. So the market for loans is pretty thin.

"Facundo is a relatively rare instance of a young player who is starting calibre or at least rotation calibre for our squad.

"An experienced loan player in the Premier League tends to not be a whole lot cheaper than buying someone. With a loan fee, agent fee, wage coverage, pretty soon you're looking at a similar number to a permanent for a player who's not yours.

"You develop somebody who is not going to return on investment and who is not going to live and die to fight off relegation, because they know that in May they're just going back home."

The free agent market remains available to clubs before the January transfer window opens but Evans is hoping to avoid having to use either.

"I don't think right now there's any need that is so great it is worth going to the free agent market to fill it," he said. "Once through the first 10 games, we'll be eight games from January and so if we have to re-evaluate, we'll use that.

"Yet our goal is to avoid January if possible."

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds