Leeds United endured a difficult 2017/18 campaign, and one of the main reasons for that was because of their poor recruitment last and during the January transfer window.
The likes of Pierre-Michel Lasogga, Caleb Ekuban, Mateusz Klich and Pawel Cibicki didn’t make the impact that the Yorkshire outfit may have expected, and eyes quickly turned to the man that was behind bringing them to Elland Road – Victor Orta.
The Spaniard certainly has a point to prove and a reputation to rescue this summer, and he needs to bring the right players to the club for manager Paul Heckingbottom if they are to have any chance of launching a Championship promotion push next season – their disgruntled fans on Twitter want to rescue a £35,000-a-week Premier League defender.
One of the major things they need to do in order to achieve that – and perhaps a strategy they went away from last term – was adding players to their squad that already know the division well, because experience of playing at this level can be the key to success – just look at Cardiff City.
Here are three signings Orta can deliver for Leeds so he goes from zero to hero among supporters…
While Bailey Peacock-Farrell impressed towards the end of the season when he was in the starting XI ahead of Felix Wiedwald and Andy Lonergan, it would be no surprise if Paul Heckingbottom wants a slightly more experienced goalkeeper between the sticks than the 21-year-old.
The Leeds boss certainly needs another option anyway with the future of Wiedwald and Lonergan surely in doubt, and Bialkowski could be one of the best signings the Yorkshire outfit can make.
The Poland international has been a regular for Ipswich during the previous three seasons, and he perhaps has just enjoyed his best yet having made 44 league appearances.
Leeds would have been frustrated when they couldn’t bring Bartley back to Elland Road last summer, after he made such a big impression during a loan spell and formed a strong partnership with Pontus Jansson at the heart of the defence.
The situation may well have changed this year despite Swansea City’s relegation to the Championship, and if Orta can orchestrate a deal to bring the 27-year-old back to Yorkshire his popularity will rise spectacularly among Whites supporters.
With Jansson and Bartley reunited at centre-back, they will undoubtedly have a significantly better chance of mounting a serious promotion push next term.
The Telegraph reports that Derby County will be cutting their budget this summer after losing to Fulham in the play-offs, and that include selling Vydra – the top goalscorer in the Championship this season with 21 league goals.
The report suggests that the Rams could demand £8m for the attacker, and while that would be a huge amount for Leeds to pay for the 26-year-old, if they manage to get Hull City centre-forward Abel Hernandez on a free too then they should look at how good a deal it would be to get two proven scorers at this level for that fee.
They need more than one striker, and if they did get the pair they would be well on course to achieve a top-six finish next term.
Do you agree, Leeds fans? Let us know below.