Sensible Leeds United transfer decision can help avoid 'two pitch' scenario and new boss headache

The interim football advisor, as he was described by the club in Thursday's press release, is here to mastermind and manage the transfer window, as he did for Newcastle United in January 2022.

Then, he oversaw the arrivals of Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn and Matt Targett as the Magpies' Saudi Arabian ownership made its first foray into the market. That work was transformative at St James' Park and has been given huge significance in the story of their turnaround. Far more so than the busy shuffling of fringe players into loan clubs.

Now he's got to do a bit more than transform a side through new arrivals and intelligent purchases, because this Leeds squad is in serious need of a redesign.

And though it is the most obvious statement of the year to say the players who come in this summer have to be exactly the right ones if a promotion bid is to succeed, the outgoing business looks just as key.

Leeds have not given themselves, or rather circumstances have not given Leeds a great deal of time to play with in order to get both their ins and outs majorly underway prior to day one of pre-season.

Just how pivotal the lateness of that takeover agreement between Andrea Radrizzani and 49ers Enterprises will be viewed remains to be seen and will depend largely on the work Hammond oversees at Elland Road. But in any case, any new first team manager will want a squad that is full of options but not one that is hugely bloated.

The Yorkshire Evening Post recently undertook a predictions-based analysis of players who could be considered part of the first team picture this summer and the number ran to 40. That was without taking into account a great number of youngsters who will likely form next season's Under 21s squad, some of whom might harbour a glimmer of hope of breaking through to the senior set-up.