Latest News

Phil Hay reveals difference in opinion between Jesse Marsch and Leeds United board over potential Wolves transfer

|
Image for Phil Hay reveals difference in opinion between Jesse Marsch and Leeds United board over potential Wolves transfer

Jesse Marsch had been keen to bring Wolves attacker Hwang Hee-chan to Leeds United in the January transfer window.

That’s according to The Athletic’s Phil Hay, who says that the Elland Road club’s board was reluctant to sanction that deal.

How did things play out in attack for Leeds in January?

Leeds went in to last month’s transfer window, well aware of the fact that they needed to add to their options in attack.

In the end, they managed to do that with the signing of Georginio Rutter, with the 20-year-old joining from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim for a club record fee.

Prior to that deal going through, it had been reported by The Athletic that Hwang was being considered by Leeds as an alternative to Rutter, with no deal for the Wolves man eventually materialising.

Now it seems as though that is despite that fact that Marsch, who previously worked with the South Korean international at Leipzig, had been keen to reunite with him once again.

What has Phil Hay had to say about Leeds’ interest in Hwang?

Speaking about Leeds’ January transfer search for a striker, Hay has revealed it was Marsch – who was of course sacked by the club earlier this week – who wanted Hwang, despite the board’s pursuit of Rutter.

The reporter told The Athletic Football podcast: “One of the players that Marsch was very interested in last month up front was Hwang at Wolves, who he’d worked with at Leipzig.

“But Leeds’ attitude was Hwang was well into his career. And at this stage, it was hard to say if he was a particularly good investment.

Whereas Rutter is 20 years old, very much emerging, had a couple of good years at Hoffenheim. Much better in terms of future potential and resale value.”

It could be argued that this clears up some of the questions around the sacking of Marsch by Leeds.

There had been some questions about why the club had sacked the American earlier this week, so soon after backing him with such significant investment in the transfer window.

However, these sorts of comments from Hay seem to suggest that may not have actually fully backed Marsch, as they would have done by signing his targets such as Hwang.

Rutter’s lack of experience at this level does make this a risk, but there is the potential for that still to pay off given the promise he has shown, while Hwang has never really been prolific in the Premier League, which could have led to more questions, had that deal been the one they completed.

Share this article

UCLan Sports Journalism graduate. Have been working for Leeds All Over since summer 2020, and can only be found writing on Football League World.