Thomas Christiansen revealed he was happy with the transfer business Leeds United got done in the January transfer window.
The Leeds manager confirmed on Thursday that he was pleased with his new signings, after the club added the likes of Adam Forshaw and Tyler Roberts to the squad during the recent window.
“What we have done has been good,” said Christiansen, as quoted by the personal Twitter account of Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent Phil Hay.
Christiansen said he was happy with the business done in the transfer window. “What we have done has been good.” On the centre-back front, he said the club were wary of signing another and ending up with surplus options once everyone was fit or free from suspension. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) February 2, 2018
The reliable journalist went on to reveal that Christiansen believed the club didn’t add a new centre-back to the squad during the window as the Whites were wary that they might not need one when everyone is available.
The Daily Mail Live Transfer Blog (Wednesday, 18:07) previously reported that the Whites had spent deadline day searching for central defenders to sign as Pontus Jansson was their only option not suspended or ruled out through injury.
Liam Cooper, Matthew Pennington and Conor Shaughnessy have all been unavailable recently, causing Gaetano Berardi to play at centre-back instead of taking up his usual position at right-back due to the situation.
However, Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent Phil Hay also confirmed on his Twitter that Pennington would be available for Leeds’ game on Saturday against Cardiff City, which will help ease Christiansen’s selection headache regarding the centre-back position.
Pennington is available to play against Cardiff. Shaughnessy is looking at “several weeks” out at least – the club are still waiting for the swelling on his ankle to go down. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) February 2, 2018
The Daily Mail’s report previously suggested that Leeds were struggling to get someone as they only wanted to sign a defender on loan, which supports Christiansen suggestion that the club were wary of having too many options in the near future.
OPINION
Leeds may have been right to hold off on getting a new centre-back in the January window as Pennington’s return has already ease their concerns at the back. The Whites probably could have done with cover being signed, but if they were unable to get anyone on a temporary basis, then it would have been a waste. A central defender not arriving was the only downside of a successful window for Leeds, and Christiansen is right to be happy about the club’s business. The manager’s current squad should be more than capable of getting into the play-offs this season. Whether he can achieve promotion is a different story, as Leeds will face some tough competition if they make the play-offs.