Leeds United’s transfer window has been a story more to do with outgoing sales rather than incoming additions this summer, but Michael Bridges thinks Leeds have done something “unbelievable”.
Failure to gain promotion to the Premier League has meant that Leeds and The 49ers needed to cash in. It has seen seven sold, including big stars like Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville, Glen Kamara and more.
Five have gone on loan, and loads more have departed at the end of their contracts. Cody Drameh, Luke Ayling, Ian Poveda and Jamie Shackleton have joined Championship clubs on free transfers this summer.
Just four signings have arrived and one of those has already admitted he is unlikely to play much in the form of Alex Cairns, given he is the club’s third-choice goalkeeper – a replacement for Kristoffer Klaesson.
Bridges says move from The 49ers this summer is ‘unbelievable’
Jayden Bogle started on Saturday against Portsmouth and Joe Rothwell came off the bench after joining on loan from Bournemouth. Joe Rodon meanwhile, has joined Leeds from Tottenham for a fee of £10m.
Former Leeds striker Bridges praised the deal to get defender Rodon to the club on a permanent basis from Tottenham. A deal that saw Gray go to Spurs allowed Leeds to strike a move for the Wales player.
“If the team had been obliterated and we’d have lost our manager, we would have had to restart the process. Thankfully, we’ve still got Daniel Farke, new sponsors on board, got the investment going.
“The players that are here are here to play. To get Joe Rodon is a unbelievable signing, to get him officially at this football club, he was one of my highlighted players last season,” Bridges told LUTV.
Leeds beat Premier League clubs to the signing of Rodon
The Whites might have Gray to thanks for picking Tottenham and allowing Leeds to strike a deal for Rodon. Following defeat to Southampton, the Saints, Ipswich and Leicester were all linked with Rodon.
Ipswich even made a £10m bid to sign Rodon just before the Wales star agreed to move to Leeds, with Spurs rejecting the offer having given priority to Leeds. Ignoring the top tier to join Leeds is huge.
With Rodon at the back, Leeds have strengthened their chances of promotion to the Premier League at the second time of asking. But he will have to sharpen up following Saturday’s draw with Portsmouth.
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