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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Speaking to West Yorkshire Daily on the BBC (6pm, 04/09), Angus Kinnear spoke highly of Andrea Radrizzani, hailing him and his financial commitment for why Leeds were able to hold onto key men this summer.
What’s he said?
Leeds’ summer was a topsy-turvy state of affairs as they saw 31 players depart the club and six men arrive through the doors on loan.
Some of those fell on transfer deadline day as Illan Meslier and Eddie Nketiah were welcomed following the departures of Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Kemar Roofe in their respective positions.
Roofe was a high profile name to exit Elland Road but perhaps the biggest loss of them all was Pontus Jansson who was named in the PFA Team of the Year last season.
However, it could have been much worse for Leeds after Kinnear revealed they swatted away interest for Kalvin Phillips and other players. The Whites’ Managing Director suggests they have Radrizzani to thank for that. He told the BBC:
“Not going up means your players are sought after by other clubs, we had Kalvin and that was very publicised. There were a number of other players that we received offers for from both the Premier League and the Championship.
“It’s a testament to Andrea’s financial commitment that the belief of the team as a unit and in Marcelo that they refused those offers, wanted to stay. We were able to refuse them and maintain the integrity of the squad.”
Top dogs pull through
This is yet again more fine evidence of the nous top officials at Leeds have.
Radrizzani joined the club in 2017 and has since been able to transform the club alongside Marcelo Bielsa as they achieved a playoff spot last term, previously languishing in mid-table.
It’s been quite the turnaround for the Whites who feel like a team that can once again compete for a place in the Premier League, sitting third in the Championship at present.
That’s largely thanks to the wealthy businessman whose financial commitment, as Kinnear notes, has played a huge part in Leeds sustaining a better future.
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Victor Orta’s role in transfers this summer was well documented as he had a pivotal part in landing Nketiah on loan but quite possibly without Radrizzani it wouldn’t have been possible.
Letting go of Jansson and Roofe wasn’t an ideal scenario but holding onto other key men really is a testament to the project they’re building at Elland Road.
Phillips attracted interest from three Premier League outfits in the summer whilst Mateusz Klich was linked with Burnley.
If you consider Kinnear’s words, they might have been long gone if Radrizzani wasn’t at the helm.
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