Championship

Brown deal shows Leeds have learnt their lesson

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Image for Brown deal shows Leeds have learnt their lesson

OPINION

Leeds United appear to have learned the expensive lesson of the summer following Andrea Radrizzani’s takeover.

Long-term contracts were handed to players who barely deserved them while the owner sanctioned a blizzard of signings for youth and senior teams that failed to fire.

The club were far more prudent in the recent window, when big money was spent on just two players, both of whom – Patrick Bamford and Barry Douglas – were proven in the Championship.

The rest of the transfer budget was spent on loan deals, with three of the four arrivals joining from Chelsea – Izzy Brown, Lewis Baker and Jamal Blackman – and other, Jack Harrison, from Manchester City.

Although none of the loan signings have yet fired, and Blackman has sadly returned to Chelsea with a broken leg, Leeds were shrewd in mitigating the risk of the marquee loan arrival.

Attacking midfielder Brown joined on deadline day while still recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained while at Brighton in January.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the terms of the deal agreed mean that Chelsea have footed the entirety of the bill for the 21-year-old while he works his way back to full fitness.

It is said that Leeds have not yet paid a penny to Brown and they will not do so until he is “ready to be part of the 18-man matchday squad”.

That could be very soon after the player was named in the starting XI for the Leeds Under-23s side taking on Burnley today (Tuesday).

Leeds have played a blinder over this deal as a player who has had successful loan spells in the past at Huddersfield, Rotherham, Brighton and Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem has spent months getting up to speed with his Elland Road teammates and assimilated into the style of play and requirements of Marcelo Bielsa.

Smart work from Radrizzani, Victor Orta and company.

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