Although Leeds United’s mistakes throughout their Premier League stint are the primary reason for their current Championship journey, supporters may trace it back to the summer 2021 transfer window.
Leeds’ first season in the Premier League was astounding as they finished ninth while playing some brilliant football, taking four points off champions Manchester City in the process. After a top-half finish, the opportunity was there for Leeds to kick on and establish themselves as a mainstay in the Premier League once more.
According to Sky Sports, Andrea Radrizzani went on record following relegation to detail how Bielsa insisted on making several signings during that summer transfer window in 2021:
The strain can occasionally become unbearable. We both recall finishing ninth at the conclusion of the Premier League’s inaugural season.
It was an incredible season, and I recall having a conversation with Marcelo. We can’t do better than that unless we make changes, therefore you should change me or you should change all the players, he truly said.
“He knew that this was the breaking point. We made the decision to stay another year in hopes that he would take on the role of director of football in addition to coach.
However, Leeds then made just three permanent senior signings, one of those being Jack Harrison signed on a permanent £11million deal after three successive loans from Manchester City, and the other two being Dan James for £25million and Junior Firpo for £13million.
What followed was a season of real struggle for Bielsa and Leeds as his side looked physically much worse off after three incredibly intense campaigns, and saw the Argentine sacked after essentially predicting his own demise and being ignored by Radrizzani in the summer.
The summer transfer Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made from Georgia was a cost-effective solution Leeds might have managed.
Subsequent to the Russian side’s Rubin Kazan, Kvaratskhelia sought a way out and even verified that negotiations had been undertaken with Leeds:
“Many clubs are currently in negotiations. We have already entered a critical stage. With whom are we negotiating? I’m not able to state that.
Discussions with Leeds? Indeed, they have taken place and might happen again.
Leeds missed a fantastic chance when his representative simultaneously disclosed that £10 million would be all it would take to sign him at the moment.
Kvaratskhelia, who is currently only 23 years old, is one of the top wingers in the world of football and is helping Napoli win their first Scudetto since Diego Maradona’s legendary time at the team.
Kvaratskhelia has made a remarkable 28 goals and 28 assists in his first 100 Napoli appearances in all competitions.
The winger placed 17th in the 2023 Ballon D’Or rankings, above of players like Antoine Griezman, Harry Kane, and Jude Bellingham.
Three goals and two assists have come from his seven Serie A outings under Antonio Conte this season; in his last two, he has started alongside former Leeds youth Elia Caprile.