Leeds United’s move for Harry Wilson failed on deadline day and the situation continues to develop in terms of the details coming out from Fulham and Leeds.
It was our exclusive at Leeds United News which first revealed Leeds’ interest in Harry Wilson, with a loan bid from Leeds to Fulham rejected initially in the mid-afternoon of deadline day.
It was then revealed that the deal for Wilson and Leeds was still alive permanently, especially if Fulham added numerous attackers to replace Wilson, with a number of big-money deadline day moves eyed by the Cottagers.
Fulham even agreed to two Wilson replacements but the deal was still not guaranteed with the hours then counting down to the deadline at 7pm. Then, Wilson to Leeds looked in doubt amid the need for a deal sheet to finalise a deal with Fulham.
Harry Wilson situation explained between Leeds and Fulham
All then went quiet regarding Wilson while Darko Gyabi’s exit was sealed. It was later clear that the 28-year-old was not coming and the crucial details of the transfer collapse between Fulham, Leeds, and Wilson have been revealed since.
Other details have emerged after Fulham did deals for Kevin and Samuel Chukwueze, but some reports say the inability to bring in Chelsea’s Tyrique George meant Fulham chose to keep Wilson.
Robbie Evans also explained Wilson staying at Fulham, stating: “It’s pretty straightforward in that we had a player targeted. It didn’t come through. We thought we had the right price. We put the offer in above that price. The player was on board. Club couldn’t get it done.
“Their club couldn’t get it done. We sent the deal sheet in after being given some indication it could work. But they were also doing three deals at once. So Fulham signed €85m worth of wingers yesterday.
“Whether it was out of time or they decided not to sell, we don’t know. But it didn’t happen. Thankfully for us, that’s why we did the overwhelming majority of our business before the last day of the window.”
Beren Cross has revealed further details via The Athletic, stating: “Wilson was the solution the club was targeting as deadline day began. Sources at Leeds believed they had met the asking price Fulham wanted.
“As Monday progressed, Fulham confirmed talks were ongoing with Leeds around a transfer. A flight was scheduled to take Wilson from Cardiff, near the Wales squad’s training camp, to Leeds. This flight was pushed back to a 4.25pm departure, but it missed that target and was eventually cancelled.
“United remained confident that a deal could still be done, even if Wilson was not in West Yorkshire to complete it. Yet time went on without a final agreement or announcement by the two clubs.
“Elland Road sources felt there was encouragement from the Fulham end on a deal sheet to keep the transfer alive beyond the 7pm deadline. Leeds say they signed their portion, but Fulham did not, cancelling the deal as the window closed.
“Fulham sources insist, at some stage between mid-afternoon and 7pm, they informed Leeds that Wilson was no longer for sale, and there was no such agreement that they should all sign a deal sheet.”
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Robbie Evans and Daniel Farke disagree over final signing
Farke made clear he wants a versatile creative player at the least this summer. Since then Farke doubled down on Leeds needing attacking additions to the 49ers publicly and maybe as many as two more if they are to survive relegation, per Adam Pope.
Evans has disputed that fact today, speaking to The Athletic. He agreed on the type of profile Leeds missed out on, but not on how essential it will be to survival long-term.
He said: “A set-piece-taking, inside of wing, No 10 type is the one thing we’re still sort of missing, and we’d love to have that to just sort of round out the entire summer. At the same time, when you look at a 25-man roster with 10 entrants, it’s very unlikely (that) one thing ends up being the deciding factor.
“On the one hand, you’d like to tick every single box. But at the end of the day, for us, the 24 guys we woke up with yesterday versus the 25 we could have had will probably only incrementally change our odds long term in our goal of staying up.”
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