Pundit hits back at Leeds United transfer criticism with 'superstar' claim over new signings

Former Premier League midfielder Darren Ambrose believes the Leeds United squad is 'not worse off', despite selling key men Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha this summer.

The Whites have sold Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha to Manchester City and Barcelona respectively, but Jesse Marsch has recruited six players so far, with the likes of Tyler Adams, Luis Sinisterra and Brenden Aaronson joining the club.

Ambrose was responding to comments made by Jamie O'Hara on talkSPORT on Wednesday, with the former Tottenham midfielder stating that Leeds are in 'big trouble' after 'signing nobodies', predicting that Marsch will be sacked this season.

“You want to improve, you want to progress from last season but you’ve got a new manager who’s kind of unproven in the Premier League,” former Newcastle, Ipswich and Crystal Palace midfielder Ambrose said on talkSPORT Drive.

“They’ve signed these six players who are unproven in the Premier League, but I don’t think they’re in a worse spot. I think Jamie was being a little bit harsh. If you look at the players who have signed – Champions League players, Bundesliga players – they’re a good team.

“These are players Marsch managed so he knows what they’re about. Yes they’ve lost two of their best players, if not the best two. Kalvin Phillips only played 20 Premier League games last season which was a huge loss but they finished 17th.

“The issue they had was strength in depth… when Patrick Bamford and Phillips were injured they didn’t have many quality players to come in.

“They’ve gained around £100million for the two and they’ve spent around £80-90million on six players so they can sign one, two, three more players to get that strength in depth.

“When I say Leeds need to aim for 17th I’m not