This week, Brian McDermott held what he described as positive talks with club owners GFH Capital. Many Leeds fans hope this means he will get a more sizeable transfer budget than previous managers have, with that in mind, we round up all the rumoured ins and outs of the past week.
INS
Matt Mills- Bolton
Mills was linked heavily with a move back to Leeds early this week. The centre back who was McDermott's captain while at Reading is said to be keen on a move to Yorkshire to link up with his former boss. He left Reading for a big money move to Leicester and both that and his subsequent move to Reebok haven't worked out well for him. Bolton boss and former Leeds loanee, Dougie Freedman, is understood to be chasing WBA defender Craig Dawson and the sale of Mills, rumoured to be around the £1 million mark, would free up funds to do this.
Ian Harte- Reading
Ian Harte is no stranger to Leeds fans having played for the club in our most recent 'glory years'. He is also no stranger to McDermott who took the ageing full back from Carlisle and made him a key part of his team. Harte was never blessed with pace and so won't have lost much as time has gone by, his big attribute his the dead ball ability he brings to the team. However, Leeds have four professional Left Backs at the club (Warnock, White, Taylor and Drury) and certainly both Warnock and White are better players in my mind and I would be surprised if this deal went through.
Nathan Thompson- Swindon
It has often annoyed me how Leeds don't seem to buy from the lower leagues when there is obvious talent there, however, we have been linked with Swindon right back Nathan Thompson who at 22 has a bright future ahead of him. Many Leeds fans expressed that the club already have Sam Byram filling the Right Back berth and wondered why we would need another. Despite this, I would support the signing of a young up and coming British talent for three reasons:
1- If Byram doesn't leave this season, then I'm almost certain he will next and when he goes, we are going to need someone to step into his boots.
2- The fee reported is £500,000 which is a good deal in my eyes for a player of this quality
3- With McDermott's desire to play with wingers, Byram could be moved forward, as he has done a number of time this season, and so Thompson could slot in
Jean-Bryan Boukaka- Tours FC (France)
Boukaka is a 21 year old striker who currently plays for Tours, after moving there at the start of the season from Rennes, his hometown club. He is a very quick forward, but apart from that, not many people know much about the lad. It must be said though, that the first thing BMcD did when he arrived at Leeds was overhaul the scouting system and it is well known that he has got a good eye for a player and with Boukaka requiring very little outlay, it may be a risk worth taking. Remember, barely anyone had heard of Jermaine Beckford before he signed from Wealdstone.
INS
Matt Mills- Bolton
Mills was linked heavily with a move back to Leeds early this week. The centre back who was McDermott's captain while at Reading is said to be keen on a move to Yorkshire to link up with his former boss. He left Reading for a big money move to Leicester and both that and his subsequent move to Reebok haven't worked out well for him. Bolton boss and former Leeds loanee, Dougie Freedman, is understood to be chasing WBA defender Craig Dawson and the sale of Mills, rumoured to be around the £1 million mark, would free up funds to do this.
Ian Harte- Reading
Ian Harte is no stranger to Leeds fans having played for the club in our most recent 'glory years'. He is also no stranger to McDermott who took the ageing full back from Carlisle and made him a key part of his team. Harte was never blessed with pace and so won't have lost much as time has gone by, his big attribute his the dead ball ability he brings to the team. However, Leeds have four professional Left Backs at the club (Warnock, White, Taylor and Drury) and certainly both Warnock and White are better players in my mind and I would be surprised if this deal went through.
Nathan Thompson- Swindon
It has often annoyed me how Leeds don't seem to buy from the lower leagues when there is obvious talent there, however, we have been linked with Swindon right back Nathan Thompson who at 22 has a bright future ahead of him. Many Leeds fans expressed that the club already have Sam Byram filling the Right Back berth and wondered why we would need another. Despite this, I would support the signing of a young up and coming British talent for three reasons:
1- If Byram doesn't leave this season, then I'm almost certain he will next and when he goes, we are going to need someone to step into his boots.
2- The fee reported is £500,000 which is a good deal in my eyes for a player of this quality
3- With McDermott's desire to play with wingers, Byram could be moved forward, as he has done a number of time this season, and so Thompson could slot in
Jean-Bryan Boukaka- Tours FC (France)
Boukaka is a 21 year old striker who currently plays for Tours, after moving there at the start of the season from Rennes, his hometown club. He is a very quick forward, but apart from that, not many people know much about the lad. It must be said though, that the first thing BMcD did when he arrived at Leeds was overhaul the scouting system and it is well known that he has got a good eye for a player and with Boukaka requiring very little outlay, it may be a risk worth taking. Remember, barely anyone had heard of Jermaine Beckford before he signed from Wealdstone.