Jesse Marsch is often criticised for his work in the transfer window at Leeds United. His influx of new signings in the summer of 2022 played a big role in Leeds’ relegation a year later.
The signings of Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca, Weston McKennie, Brenden Aaronson, and Luis Sinisterra all flopped and prevented Leeds from securing safety, having sold Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha to fund it.
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Leeds are still paying the price now, and Daniel Farke even throws a cheeky dig in the way of Marsch now and then. The latest example is Marsch’s decision to loan Dan James to Fulham, rather than keeping him.
Fast forward to now, and Leeds are preparing to face Aston Villa at Elland Road on Sunday. Tony Dorigo has been previewing the game, but he says Leeds lack a player that, actually, Marsch wanted to sign.
Tony Dorigo says Leeds need a player like Morgan Gibbs-White
According to a report from TeamTalk in the summer of 2022, Leeds were among the clubs considering a move for Wolves talent Gibbs-White. But Forest chose to splash a massive £42.5m to land the playmaker.
In Leeds’ last game, Gibbs-White ran the show. He scored the all-important second goal, putting Forest’s noses in front, and Dorigo told the Square Ball this week that Leeds are lacking a player like Gibbs-White.
“I looked at that game, and I looked at the differences between the two teams. I didn’t think Forest were that great. But Morgan Gibbs-White was kind of the player we didn’t have,” Dorigo told the Square Ball.
“He was occupying the centre-halves, he’s on left wing, right wing. He was everywhere. We didn’t have that. Against us, they were open, but you saw him do things where you thought, he’s not bad.”
Leeds are two or three years away from Gibbs-White signings
In the most recent summer window, Gibbs-White almost left Forest to join Tottenham for £60m. A fee that is more than half the outlay Leeds spread across 10 new signings during the same transfer window.
This season is all about consolidation for Leeds. Fighting to survive. Two or three seasons in the Premier League and improving the club’s financial position off the pitch will allow Leeds to spend more.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 8 |  TottenhamTottenham | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 18 |
| 9 |  Aston VillaAston Villa | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 18 |
| 10 |  Manchester UnitedManchester United | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 18 | 1 | 18 |
| 11 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 20 | -2 | 18 |
| 12 |  BrentfordBrentford | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 19 | -1 | 16 |
| 13 |  EvertonEverton | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 15 |
| 14 |  NewcastleNewcastle | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 15 | -2 | 15 |
| 15 |  FulhamFulham | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 16 | -3 | 14 |
| 16 |  Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 20 | -7 | 12 |
| 17 |  West HamWest Ham | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 15 | 25 | -10 | 11 |
| 18 |  LeedsLeeds | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 20 | -10 | 11 |
| 19 |  BurnleyBurnley | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 24 | -10 | 10 |
| 20 |  WolvesWolves | 12 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 27 | -20 | 2 |
But for now, and probably next season too if Leeds do manage to remain in the Premier League beyond this season, it is all about survival. Do that, and Leeds will be able to spend the likes of £60m on a player.
As things stand, however, Leeds sit in the relegation zone. It is a tall order for newly-promoted sides to survive and Daniel Farke is feeling the pressure. LeedsUnited.News understands Farke has until January.
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