LEEDS, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: Detail view of the Leeds United club badge on the corner flag prior to the Premier League match between Leeds United and Newcastle United at Elland Road on December 16, 2020 in Leeds, England.The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Rui Vieira - Pool/Getty Images)
The Whites knew that failure to secure promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking would present difficult decisions to be made in the summer, mainly with trimming the squad by making sales.
That was inevitable, as much as the sales were more damaging than first thought, but the club recovered well to end the window strongly with multiple additions.
However, four unanswered incoming signings in the form of Largie Ramazani, Manor Solomon, Ao Tanaka, and Isaac Schmidt have seen Leeds strengthen significantly.
There might be an argument made that the club would have benefitted a great deal from another attacking midfielder, but the performance against Hull City, in particular the way the Whites saw out the game with crucial subs, proves Farke has the right options to get the better of sides in this league.
Transfermarkt have shared a running account of every Championship club’s most valuable starting lineup and most valuable bench since the start of the season.
Unsurprisingly, Leeds are top of both tables, given that their opening game against Portsmouth boasted the incredibly valuable Georginio Rutter – soon to join Brighton for £40million the following week.
Interestingly, though, Leeds’ bench also tops the league with a transfer value total of €47.8million (£40.28m), and each player on that bench remains here: Karl Darlow, Max Wöber, Sam Byram, Charlie Crew, Joe Rothwell, Brenden Aaronson, Joe Gelhardt, Joel Piroe, Patrick Bamford:
Add to that Leeds’ four signings since that Portsmouth clash and the market value of Leeds’ bench will likely be even higher.
Compared to Burnley’s depth which has taken a beating with players leaving in the final fortnight, and the gap between Leeds’ overall squad worth and their rivals will only widen as the season goes on.
