While Victor Orta has yet to be replaced at Leeds United, there is still work going on in the background at Elland Road to look for summer transfers.
A lot of changes is expected at Leeds this summer with relegation more than a possibility, as a takeover is looming, players are likely to be leaving, and a new manager is needed.
At the forefront of all the changes to the playing and management staff is the replacement of Victor Orta, who left the club early in May.
Will the club still plan transfers without a director of football?
The absence of a director of football casts a lot of doubt on which direction the side will take in the transfer window, with plenty of shortcomings needing to be resolved before the season starts.
Scouts have remained at the club despite Orta’s exit, and they are believed to already be working on scouting players for potential summer moves.
That’s according to the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth, who shared the caveat that without a director in place, this interest isn’t going to yet materialised:
“We’re told the scouting team has still been running in the background but with no one to lead the project and no certainty of who will own it this summer, what concrete stuff can they actually be working on? This, in turn, makes me look at any transfer links in an even more sceptical way.”
Who could replace Orta?
In terms of Leeds’ search to find a replacement for Orta, two names have emerged already as potential candidates for the position.
Leeds All Over exclusively reported back in early May that Norwich City’s Stuart Webber was an option the club are considering, with Andrea Radrizzani said to be an admirer for the Leeds-supporting Welshman.
The Athletic relayed this information, while also revealing Leeds are also looking at Middlesbrough’s Kieran Scott as another option.
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After the takeover, the first thing Leeds need to be addressing is a new director of football, and someone with a better track record than Orta is required.
A move for either of Scott or Webber would split opinion, given their patchy records at Norwich and ‘Boro respectively.
The scouts are going to continue doing good work in the background, and with a new front-man in place, expect Leeds to get to work as soon as possible.