Graham Smyth makes double Leeds United transfer claim after quiet deadline day

Leeds United missed out on the chance to sign Donny van de Beek and Harry Winks on deadline day, according to reliable journalist Graham Smyth.

The Whites may have hoped to get some significant January business done but that didn’t prove to be the case in the end, with no signings made last month. A lack of money seemingly put paid to that, with Marcelo Bielsa now having to make do with the squad he has between now and the end of the season.

A key claim has emerged regarding some potential late business, and it’s one which could frustrate Leeds fans.

Writing for the Yorkshire Evening Post, Smyth claimed that the Whites were offered the opportunity to bring in Van de Beek and Winks from Manchester United and Tottenham respectively, but they declined the chance. The journalist reported:

“Both of whom were made available to the Whites on loan for the rest of the season.

“The YEP understands that, after discussions with Bielsa, the club decided not to pursue those options. Signing players he did not feel were needed or attempting to operate on anything other than the same page as Bielsa would be, one suspects, a pointless and dysfunctional exercise.”

This is a hugely frustrating update to hear now that the transfer window is officially closed, with midfield an area which clearly needed strengthening in January. Kalvin Phillips’ continued absence is a big blow, while Adam Forshaw has also been sidelined and has had huge injury problems in the last couple of years.

It seems that Leeds simply didn’t sign Van de Beek or Winks for tactical reasons and the hope is that the decision doesn’t come back to haunt them in May, with a relegation battle still potentially on the cards.

In other news, a positive update regarding one Leeds