Crystal Palace's French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28, has no interest in a move to Leeds United but finds the prospect of joining Aston Villa enticing. (Teamtalk), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Adonis Storr
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesAs the smoke billowed around him at the open-top bus parade in Leeds in May, club chairman Paraag Marathe told the world, external that Leeds United are "going to be one of the best clubs in all of Europe".
It is the kind of statement understandable if it comes from a fan nestled in among the 100,000-plus others that lined the city's streets that day, drunk on promotion and dreaming of the future.
But, from a club chairman, it is the sort of statement that will be brought back up during any setback, and the end of Leeds' summer transfer window was the perfect lightning rod for criticism.
"In order to be competitive and to survive in the best league in the world, we need to do a bit more in the offence" manager Daniel Farke said before the transfer window closed.
The German made it clear he wanted "one or two" more attacking options.
Leeds have not scored a goal in open play in their opening three Premier League games this season and have only managed one shot on target in each of the past two.
The attacking additions brought in all have histories of injuries. No-one will be surprised if winger Noah Okafor and strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha all miss significant portions of this season.
Robbie Evans, Leeds' new manager director, told media in a question and answer session last week, that "a number 10 type is the one thing we're still sort of missing".
Leeds have been missing a number 10 type player since Pablo Hernadez lost his place in United's first team under Marcelo Bielsa five years ago.
The success of the club's transfer strategy will ultimately be defined by results, but failing to back Farke's attack feels like a huge mistake.
Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock, external
Leeds United are considering a move for 32-year-old free agent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but Rangers and Everton are also interested in the former England international, who left Turkish club Besiktas at the end of August. (The Boot Room), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
Leeds United, Aston Villa and Newcastle United are interested in Crystal Palace's 28-year-old France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and could make a move in January. (Caught Offside), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds United managing director Robbie Evans has stressed the club's owners San Francisco 49ers Enterprises have prevented the damaging scenario, allowed by the previous regime, whereby players were able to leave for little or no value upon relegation.
"I can say categorically we don't have any relegation loan clauses, which I found to be by far the most catastrophic," he says.
"Some players have relegation sale clauses. All of them are at a price, at or well above the price, paid for them and many of them don't. I'm pretty confident that any player that comes down either, we'll be in control of their sale or if they're sold, I'm comfortable with the return they'll have generated."
Leeds may not have sold anyone of significance but three strikers have been allowed to go. Patrick Bamford left permanently while both Mateo Joseph and Largie Ramazani are on loan at Mallorca and Valencia respectively in deals which favour United.
"We think very highly of Mateo, he has all those same characteristics of the right profile, skill set, etc, to play at any league in Europe, including in the Premier League. He needs the minutes and part of why his loan took as long as it did is that every team that was trying to take him on loan was requiring a buy option.
"We simply said there's no way you're getting an option on this player. Our hope is he has a phenomenal season at Mallorca and comes back. He's a favourite of the club and the chairman and so we hope he does great. Same story for Largie who also has no buy option because we insisted we had the option to bring him back to the club."
On Bamford, Evans said: "Daniel [Farke] made clear early in camp that Pat was not in his primary plans. At that point it felt fairest to Pat and to the club that he be let free to go and so we worked to get a mutual determination done that allows him that freedom. We love Pat, club legend, helped us get promoted twice, but at that point in time it was the fairest thing for everyone involved."
One player expected to leave was goalkeeper Illan Meslier who has fallen down the pecking order. Evans commented: "There was some interest in Illan. But it wasn't as strong as I'd expect for a player of his calibre. So it ended up being the case that for both parties it was better that he be here."
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
Image source, Getty ImagesThe dust has just about settled on Leeds United 's busy transfer window.
In total, the Whites brought in 10 players for a total of about £99.45m based on reported initial fees.
Those incomings were:
Noah Okafor - AC Milan
Anton Stach - Hoffenheim
Jaka Bijol - Udinese
Lucas Perri - Lyon
Sean Longstaff - Newcastle
Gabriel Gudmundsson - Lille
James Justin - Leicester City
Sebastiaan Bornauw - Wolfsburg
Dominic Calvert-Lewin - Everton (free)
Lukas Nmecha - Wolfsburg (free)
*All permanent unless otherwise stated
Heading the other way, Leeds had several notable outgoings, including loans for Mateo Joseph to Mallorca and Max Wober to Werder Bremen, and exits of Junior Firpo and Patrick Bamford.
Of all the summer incomings at Elland Road, who do you think will have the biggest impact?
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds 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
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Leeds United defender and 1992 title winner Jon Newsome told BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast that he is concerned with where goals will come from after a slow end to the transfer window.
"I thought they did a lot of the business early which I think is all very understandable. I've never understood why clubs leave it until the very last minute to get things through when you know what you need," he said.
"But I do think they might be a couple, one or two, players short especially at the top of the pitch. I look at the side and I thought the game was a good performance against Newcastle and they put a real fighting display in but I just wonder where the goals are going to come from. That's my concern.
"You bring in Dominic Calvert-Lewin who I think we all know is a very good footballer but we've got to keep him fit. If we can and he starts getting minutes and starts excelling that's great, but I do think we need a little bit more back-up. So, I'm disappointed ultimately that they haven't brought anyone in."
Despite his frustration, Newsome clarified that getting transfers over the line isn't so simple.
He added: "It's very difficult [to get who you want], there are a lot of moving parts to a transfer and until you've got the player signed and it's all sealed, it can always fall down at any stage. It's not as easy as people think."
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds' managing director Robbie Evans believes former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the right man to fire the Whites to Premier League safety this season.
Daniel Farke's side outscored the rest of the Championship by more than 25 goals last season, but have only one goal so far this season in three games, a penalty from Calvert-Lewin's fellow summer acquisition Lukas Nmecha on matchday one.
While two clean sheets so far suggest defensively Leeds are in shape, Evans remains cautiously confident in his side's attacking options.
"I think we have enough firepower to stay up, but there's always a concern," he said. "Every promoted side has that concern of scoring. At the same time, the goals you allow are important.
"It's always a trade-off of adding defensive firepower versus offensive firepower and getting the balance right. I do think that our strategy this summer was balanced towards both those things.
"The goal is to win 10 games - I think we're capable of winning them."
Both Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin arrive with injury histories but Evans dismissed concerns over their fitness record, putting great store in Leeds' medical team.
"We're well aware of the risk and it was a key consideration acquiring them," he said. "We have tremendous faith in our medical team.
"When you acquire a new player, you're making a sacrifice somewhere as far as their age, their experiences, their ceiling, their character or their injury history.
"Something is not going to be perfect, unless they are the highly expensive player. We'd rather take somebody that's got the experience, the physicality, the profile, the goal record and the character, and bet on ourselves to keep them healthy, than take somebody who doesn't have that ceiling."
Calvert-Lewin has only 13 goals in his past three seasons but at 28, and with England caps under his belt, Evans believes his arrival is a coup.
"We're very proud of the way we went and got Dom, who, by the way, turned down a Champions League contract the day we signed him," he said. "We're thrilled that he's here.
"A shared view from the manager, from the recruitment and from the sporting director was that of all the options that were even plausibly available to us nobody was a better fit to the objective of staying up this season than Dominic."
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
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesIn the third part of the conversation with managing director Robbie Evans, he explains why fellow Premier League newboys Sunderland have been able to break the record for most money spent by a promoted side.
Since winning the play-off final, the Black Cats have spent £161.7m to bolster their squad, comfortably beating the outlay of £142m by Nottingham Forest in 2022.
While that may frustrate some Leeds supporters, Evans explains Sunderland are in a contrasting financial position in the PSR cycle.
"They are fascinating case studies," he said. "Sunderland has, in a good way, the perfect storm for creating PSR room.
"It is the combination of, as far as I am aware, little or no operating loss the past two seasons and a very low wage bill before getting promoted and selling their top talents for tens of millions.
"Now, they are effectively carrying no prior losses and a player sale profit into the Premier League, where they have a 48,000 capacity stadium waiting for them to sell out every game.
"They have the highest so-called cap room in the history of PSR and have been very aggressive, which they have a lot of credit for.
"Leeds come from the exact opposite position!"
Leeds have still spent upwards of £100m to strengthen Daniel Farke's squad for the demands of Premier League and Evans added the Whites had nothing like the room Sunderland could utilise in the market.
"Last year, Leeds had to get promoted because of the level of past player investment, the wage bill etc," he said. "So we doubled down on as much quality as possible last season to maximize our promotion odds.
"We lost roughly £60m in our company's accounts for the fiscal year 2024. That loss is inside of our three-year PSR window personal perspective. Between two years in the Championship and one year in the Premier League, you're allowed PSR losses of £61m.
"Those numbers are very similar, meaning this year we have to operate very efficiently to make our three-year window work.
"We are in almost entirely different circumstances from Sunderland."
Come back later on Wednesday for the final part of Adam's conversation with Evans.
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds United managing director Robbie Evans says the club "spent everything they could" during the summer transfer window as they strive to stay in line with Profit and Sustainability regulations (PSR).
After winning the Championship last season, chairman Paraag Marathe promised they would spend every available pound to strengthen the squad.
Given the Whites acquired 10 players for a total cost of more than £100m, Evans was emphatic in his assessment of Marathe's pledge.
"This summer, we spent everything we could," he told gathered reporters after requesting not to do a broadcast interview. "Unequivocally, we are maxing PSR out this season.
"If we had gone on to other targets [on deadline day], or on to higher-priced players back in July, the consequences would have been seen in the current roster - the players in August would not have come in, or more key players from last season would have had to go.
"There were only a handful of players that were worth even considering making those kinds of sales. And when those top players didn't materialise, we held on to our key players instead."
Evans was pleased Leeds did not have to cash in on stars from the promotion campaign - such as Ao Tanaka, Pascal Struijk and Joel Piroe - explaining that they looked to work the market differently.
"Unsurprisingly, the players that have the highest PSR profit are the ones that are most critical to our success last year and most important for our success next year," he said.
"So rather than sell them pre-emptively on the expectation of having somebody for whom that capital could be better deployed, we ticked off all of our highest-priority boxes first and foremost
"We didn't think it was wise to lose those players - the quality they bring, the continuity from last season, the familiarity with Daniel Farke's strategy and his process adds a tonne to our squad.
"So unless [selling them] was enabling something truly unique and differential, we'd rather have them here."
Come back to this page later for more from the interview with Evans
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
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty Images"A bad day at the end of a good window."
That is the assessment of Leeds United managing director Robbie Evans, who spoke to BBC Radio Leeds and local press within 24 hours of the deadline.
He professed himself satisfied with how it panned out given the arrival of 10 players for an outlay of more than £100m since the return to the Premier League, even if moves for Feyenood's Igor Paixao and Brighton's Facundo Buonanotte did not prove successful.
"When we set out back in May, we had certain targets - key positions, key profiles and estimates of the maximum available spend to get those," he explained. "We checked all those boxes.
"We brought in all the key players and got them done early. Every player we signed is our top choice."
Despite the positivity, Evans accepted some frustration exists around the failure to sign Fulham's Harry Wilson on deadline day - and the knock-on effect of being unable to further strengthen the attack.
The Wales international seemed set to join, only for the London club to pull the plug at the 11th hour.
This inability to seal the deal mirrored earlier attempts to sign Paixao and Buonanotte, both of whom plumped instead for Champions League clubs, Marseille and Chelsea respectively.
"We thought we had the right price and we put the offer in above that price," he said. "The player was on board but his club could not get it done. We put the deal sheet in having been given some indication it could work, but they were also doing three deals at once coming in.
"Whether it was out of time or they just decided not to sell, it just didn't happen. It's a bit frustrating to have it end like it ended because that was the cherry on top for us.
"We wanted one more attacker - we didn't get him. Thankfully for us, that's why we did the overwhelming majority of our business before the last day of the window.
"We ended the window, frankly, better than I thought it could have done back in May."
Molly Whitmore
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesA hard-fought point at Elland Road against Champions League opposition on Saturday felt like a real statement.
For large spells, it was difficult to tell who had just come up and who had been mixing it with Europe's elite for the past couple of years - and that in itself is a huge positive. We'll certainly take it. On a lighter note, it also spared a few awkward conversations at home, with my other half being a Geordie!
Attention now shifts to the transfer window. True to the spirit of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet, the late bid for Harry Wilson had fans refreshing their feeds until the last minute.
In the end, it wasn't to be, which is a real shame as another winger would have been a welcome addition. You would have thought we might have learned our lesson after the infamous Dan James saga all those years ago.
That said, there are plenty of positives to reflect on. Of the new arrivals, Sean Longstaff, Anton Stach, Lukas Nmecha and Gabriel Gudmundsson have all made strong first impressions, particularly in the matches against Everton and Newcastle. We'll quietly skip over the Sheffield Wednesday game...
All eyes now are on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor, as the expectation is that both will soon open their accounts and settle into goalscoring rhythm.
There were some difficult goodbyes too. Junior Firpo leaving on a free, despite two strong seasons, was a bitter pill to swallow, while the departure of Largie Ramazani felt equally harsh given the effort and commitment he always showed.
Overall, the transfer window has delivered a competitive starting XI, but concerns remain over whether the squad has the depth required to withstand the demands of a Premier League season.
When measured against the ambitious recruitment we have seen from clubs like Sunderland, this window does feel somewhat underwhelming.
The hope among supporters is that the 49ers ownership group can prove those doubts wrong. For now, though, many are left questioning the direction of the club.
On early reflection, it feels like a 5/10 window - with the potential to rise should the new arrivals settle quickly and make a telling impact.
Molly Whitmore is a regular contributor on BBC Radio Leeds - find all their audio here
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds didn't sign a single player on transfer deadline day on Monday despite needing a specialised set-piece taker according to Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix, who told BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast that it "feels a bit weird" to not have brought one in.
Rix said: "My problem with the transfer window is, when we went into it, I thought 'who's going to take the set-pieces? Who's going to take the corners and the free-kicks?'
"Obviously [Joe] Rothwell did a bit of that last year but other than him we were pretty hopeless. [Ilia] Gruev takes a few but I don't think he's very good at it. At the start of the season it was [Anton] Stach, who I feel should be on the end of those set-pieces and instead, is taking most or all of them.
"That feels a bit weird to me, that's what I feel is missing. Rather than a sparky number 10 for tricks and through balls and all that stuff, someone that could stick the ball in the right area.
"I think Jack Harrison is OK at it but that was a thing I would like and that could've been a player from anywhere. A left-back, a number nine, any position but someone you can really trust and when you have a set-piece you think it could actually be dangerous."
Another episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast is now available on BBC Sounds - and it's a transfer deadline day special.
Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Simon Rix were in place to analyse Leeds United's summer business as the window came to a close on Monday.
Listen back on BBC Sounds or watch on BBC iPlayer
Wales midfielder Harry Wilson's move from Fulham to Leeds collapsed after the Craven Cottage club had a late change of heart over selling the 28-year-old. (Yorkshire Evening Post), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
Hull City have signed midfielder Darko Gyabi joins from Leeds United on a three-year deal, with the option of a further year.
The 21-year-old has made 54 Championship appearances across two loan spells with Plymouth Argyle over the past two campaigns and was the Pilgrims' young player of the year last season.
Gyabi joined Manchester City's academy in 2018, winning two Under-23 and two U18 titles before moving to Leeds in a £5m deal in July 2022.
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesHarry Wilson is set to stay at Fulham despite deadline day interest from Leeds.
The 28-year-old had been subject to talks over a permanent deal but the two parties couldn't agree terms.
Fulham are hopeful of completing deals for multiple attackers, including Kevin, Tyrique George and Samuel Chukwueze.
It is unclear but we assume the deal sheet has gone in on at least some of those.
Jonny Buchan
BBC Radio Leeds
Image source, Getty ImagesFour points from the opening three games, which included two Champions League opponents, can absolutely be regarded as a strong start for Leeds. So that must mean it has been a good transfer window, right?
Ten arrivals would also suggest that is the case, however it is fair to say there is still a feeling that something is missing.
The club looked to add physicality, height and athleticism to the ranks for their return to the top flight with an average height of 6ft 2in across the new faces. The club believes that will be the difference between staying up and going down.
That physicality, plus the Premier League experience of the likes of Sean Longstaff worked well against Newcastle and Everton, not so much against Arsenal.
However no goals from open play in their first three games makes it abundantly clear what still needs to be added, but that search may now stretch into January. Will that be too late?
Listen to a BBC Radio Leeds deadline day special at 18:00 BST here.
Watch the show live here, external
Subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty Images"There's always hope" is how Leeds United manager Daniel Farke answered questions about the likelihood of adding two more attacking signings after a goalless against draw against Newcastle United gave his side a fourth point before the transfer window closes.
United have made 10 signings but Farke has been extremely candid about where his squad still really needs reinforcing. "In order to be competitive and to survive in the best league in the world, we need to do a bit more in the offence," he stressed.
Chelsea's expected hijacking of Leeds' bid to land Brighton's Facundo Buonanotte smacks of them missing out on Feyenoord winger Igor Paixao earlier in the window, when the Brazilian opted for Marseille.
The feeling is Leeds need a goalscorer who can be relied upon to stay fit, which free transfers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha cannot. Clearly, they come at a premium, as do creative players who can play wide and in more central areas.
Leeds have spent about £100m this summer. It is estimated that there is more available, but if it is not spent by Monday night the question will be if they have enough to remain in the fight for survival by the January window, having not sold any of their best players.
Don't miss a live transfer deadline day special from 18:00 - 20:00 BST, as BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet team guide you through the final hour of the window and analyse the business done at Elland Road this summer
