Rewind four months, and Leeds United had completed the signing of Lucas Perri, the club’s seventh addition of the summer window. Focus was now placed on signing new attacking talent.
The initial part of the window was focused on sorting out the club’s defensive and midfield requirements. Lukas Nmecha was the only one of Leeds’ seven additions until that point that was deemed an attacker.
In came Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Gabi Gudmundsson, Lucas Perri, Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff. For the rest of the window, Leeds were aiming to bring in some new attackers, and managed two.
Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin came in, but Leeds missed out on Igor Paixao, Harry Wilson and Facundo Buonanotte. Now, four months later, it is clear that Leeds needed more in the final third.
Certainly, the signing of Troy Parrott would have taken Leeds to a different level. In the summer, Leeds opted not to spend £25m on the Irishman, after AZ Alkmaar set their price tag for the in-form striker.
Leeds fans have a message for Underwood after Parrott’s heroics
Since Leeds opted not to sign Parrott after his 20-goal campaign last term, the former Tottenham striker has gone to a new level. A total of 14 goals in 13 games for Alkmaar this season, followed by heroics.
Going into the November break, Ireland needed wins against Portugal and Hungary to secure a World Cup play-off place. Almost an impossibility yet, Ireland beat Portugal 2-0 and then Hungary 3-2, late on.
Two goals against Portugal, and a last-gasp hat-trick from Parrott. Incredible, prompting Robbie Keane to sing Parrott’s name in an Irish bar last night. Reports say Leeds remain in contact to sign the striker.
Clearly, Leeds fans want Parrott signed. One posted on X: “Troy Parrott. Get him signed,” while another was prompted to post on socials after his hat-trick: “We should have signed Parrott I told you all so.”
“Please sign Troy Parrott, I’m only 100% bias” was the reaction of another Ireland-supporting Leeds fan. If AZ wanted £25m for Parrott in the summer, it is easy to imagine a much bigger fee come January.
Another pointed to the links in the summer, stating “I remember when Leeds fans slated the idea of signing Troy Parrott”, before going on to say “the LUFC hashtag is riddled with fans saying to sign him.”
Leeds United have three choices in the January window
PSR is and will continue to hamper Leeds. Robbie Evans claims Leeds are close to the border and should they stray over that line come June 30, the club will be in danger of starting next term with a deduction.
That is obviously something Leeds need to avoid. So, the club has three options. Sign no one in January and get a couple in on loan. A loan to buy is possible, pushing the fee into next season’s PSR accounts.
AZ will want the cash up front, probably, should they sell Parrott. The other is to spend big, overstep the line, and sell a couple of players to remain on the right side before the PSR cut-off come June 30.
The last, however, and probably most dangerous of all, is to do nothing. Remove any risk of PSR’s wrath, but in turn, risk relegation and cripple the club financially moving forward. A big decision for Leeds.
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