Leeds United have endured huge success in such a short period of time, most of which has occurred ever since Marcelo Bielsa’s time in charge at Elland Road.
The Argentine transformed the club on and off the pitch, uniting the fanbase after numerous years of discontent, giving them a reason to be proud of their side, and helping them end their 16-year Premier League absence.
Even though the Whites have since dropped back into the Championship, current boss Daniel Farke deserves a huge amount of credit for building a side that looks to be closing in on a top-flight return.
He’s built an impressive side, boasting the best goalscoring record in the division, but also the second-best defensive tally, showcasing their all-round talent in England’s second tier.
As impressive as the recent form has been under the German, the hard work and foundations were laid for their success many years ago, enabling Bielsa to take the club to the heights he did.
Leeds United’s transfer window in the summer of 2016
Despite Bielsa joining the club in the summer of 2018, many of the key additions to his side were made a couple of years before his arrival in Yorkshire.
Pontus Jansson moved to the Whites on loan from Italian side Torino during the summer of 2016, making 36 appearances during his temporary stint at the club.
He would be so much of a key addition that he would join permanently the following season, notching a total of over 100 games during his three years at Leeds.
Luke Ayling was another player who moved to Elland Road during that summer, moving from Bristol City in a six-figure deal – with no supporter envisaging how much of a fan-favourite he would become.
The right-back featured over 250 times, playing a key role in the promotion-winning campaign, maintaining his place as a starter in the Premier League before eventually leaving in January last year.
However, one other player has departed Yorkshire in recent times, making a huge impact during his time as a player at Elland Road, with the hierarchy also making the right call in offloading him.
The player who Leeds struck gold offloading
Strikers have often been the players who receive the most love but also criticism from the Leeds faithful, having huge pressure to deliver and fire them to success.
Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford are two players who have endured such an experience within the current first-team side, but they aren’t the only ones to go through such a period.
Kemar Roofe joined the Whites from Oxford United in 2016, costing a fee in the region of £3m – with real expectations of transforming their forward line after what was then a big-money investment.
His first season in Yorkshire was somewhat of a disaster, scoring just three times in 49 appearances across all competitions – appearing to be a huge waste of money given his lack of goal return.
However, he would quickly turn his fortunes around, registering double figures in the two following campaigns, with his goals firing the club to a third-place finish in his final year with the Whites, leading to journalist Derek Clark dubbing him “sensational”.
Roofe would subsequently depart in a £7m deal to join Anderlecht in the summer of 2019, allowing the board to more than double their investment – offloading the striker whilst his stock was at its highest.
However, fast-forward nearly six years, the 32-year-old has just joined Championship rivals Derby County on a free transfer after his release from Rangers in the summer – now only valued at £600k by Transfermarkt.
2019/20
Anderlecht
16
7
3
2020/21
Rangers
36
18
4
2021/22
Rangers
36
16
2
2022/23
Rangers
6
2
0
2023/24
Rangers
24
2
1
Total:
118
45
10
Given his huge decline in value since his departure from Leeds, the club certainly made the right call in offloading the forward, especially considering they secured promotion the year after he completed the switch to Belgium.
Roofe was a superb option for the Whites during his three-year stint at Elland Road, with the supporters undoubtedly happy to see him get his career back on track after his lengthy period without a club.
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