Leeds United made 10 senior signings in the transfer window, brought in two new signings at U21 level, and reintegrated Jack Harrison. Yet, none of those were Leeds’ most-surprising deal of the summer.
For a total fee of £108.5m, Leeds signed Lucas Perri, James Justin, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Jaka Bijol, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Anton Stach, Sean Longstaff, Lukas Nmecha, Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Harrison has returned to the surprise of most Leeds fans – and, their anger. But Harrison is back at Elland Road after his two years with Everton, while Jayden Lienou and Louis Enohoro-Marcus joined the 21s.
Working with Lienou and Enohoro-Marcus is Jonny Howson. Probably the most-surprising deal of the window saw Leeds bring Thorp Arch academy product Howson in as a player-coach for the second string.
Jonny Howson makes an admission about Leeds United 21s move
After more than 750 appearances for Leeds, Middlesbrough and Norwich, Howson has returned to Elland Road in a newly-constructed role for veterans that allows them to keep playing but start coaching.
Like Jay Spearing at Liverpool and Tom Huddlestone at Man United, Howson is back at Leeds to embark on his coaching career but also continue playing. He told the Teesside Gazette, management is the aim.
But Howson is not entirely sure what his future holds for him and admits that six months down the line, he may change his mind. Whether that means an exit from Leeds if that is the case, remains to be seen.
“As we sit here now, the idea will be to go and give it [management] a go eventually in a perfect world. But, as we know, certainly in football, it doesn’t always go to plan. I’m starting new, I’m not too sure.
“I might get six months down the line and feel it doesn’t suit me, or find something else that interests me. I can’t know for sure. As we sit here now, in a perfect world, I’d love to give managing a go eventually.”
Jonny Howson has played three times for the 21s this season
Under-21 sides are allowed to name three veteran players in their side. Marcelo Bielsa often put his unused first-team players in the second string to get game time and maintain their match fitness.
Often, you would see a Raphinha, a Kalvin Phillips, an Adam Forshaw, a Rodrigo or even a Diego Llorente playing for the 21s. Tyler Roberts and Izzy Brown were regular parts of the side under Carlos Corberan.
Under Daniel Farke, that is not the case. The 21s are left to sort themselves out and that means none of the three above-21 slots are filled, until now. Howson has played three times for the 21s this season.
He has started both of Leeds’ two Premier League 2 wins against Aston Villa and Burnley, while he was only a sub in defeat to Ipswich. Clearly, Howson has not lost it, having captained Boro at times last term.
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