January Transfer Window Round-Up

Dennis Wise's first transfer window as Leeds United boss has been fairly a Blackwell-esque transfer window.

Once again there have been more ins and outs at Elland Road than Paris Hilton's big screen debut, as the gaffer looks to build his ‘own' side.

Little Den has brought in 10 players whilst he has seen the departure of just 6– below is a summary of each player that has stepped in the bill-busting and pro-global-warming revolving door at Elland Road this January.

Players In;

Tore Andre Flo's transfer has been one of the most high-key transfers for Wise. Large sections of the United support weren't convinced by his arrival, with the forward's motives behind the move being brought into question – although he was a free transfer Flo is earning a reported £6k as well as £1k on top of that for every goal he scores, prompting fears of yet another journeyman looking for one last big pay day at Leeds' expense. However after an astute interview on Sky Sports News, a solid cameo debut and a goal to boot, the lanky Norwegian seems to have won around the majority of the Elland Road faithful. However, Leeds have been tangled up by Mr Sod and his law yet again, meaning Whites supporters are unlikely to see much of Flo this season – the former Chelsea man could be out for two months with a broken foot. Still, when fit, Flo is set to add an indispensable dimension to the United attack; at over 6ft, Flo can give United some real aerial threat.
Fee: Free.

Armando Sa is still somewhat of an unknown quantity at Leeds. The Mozambique defender has arrived at Elland Road on loan from La Liga outfit Espanyol, with Wise having the option to make his stay in England permanent if he impresses. Thus far, it is fair to say that Sa hasn't had a fair crack of the whip to be judged properly. He impressed on his debut – a 3-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup – and was one of just a few players that came out of the game with credibility. Sa also featured in the recent morale-boosting 2-1 win over Hull City and showed similar levels of capability. Perhaps a long run in the side is on the cards – he certainly has the capability to cement a place on the right-hand side if he can keep up the early promise.
Fee: Free (loan).

Robbie Elliott has yet to grace Elland Road with his infamous chicken and it doesn't look likely in the near future either – the whole Elliott situation has an innocuous edge to it. With Alan Thompson's arrival from Celtic Park, Eddie Lewis has dropped back into the left-back position leaving Elliott fairly redundant. In the few games that he has played so far, Elliott has shown little to suggest that he can even leapfrog Stephen Crainey in the left-back pecking order, never mind Lewis. A low-paying, short-term deal suggests that Elliott's move to Yorkshire will not be too risky or too much of a hindrance - even if he ends up warming the bench for the rest of the season.
Fee: Free.

Alan Thompson could be the January jewel for Dennis Wise. It was a rather surprising coup by Wise but Thompson's early-doors performances are all pointing to a successful stint. Not only has the former Celtic man shown a great work effort, his set-plays look to be impeccably judicious – two goals in two games isn't a bad record. Pace should usually be obligatory for a left midfielder in the Championship although Thompson falls into the loophole. Yes, he is slow. But he more than makes up for it with a wise-head and plenty of big game experience – there's no doubt that he's better equiped for Leeds' survival bid than an unproven, plucky and pacy winger from the lower leagues or a Premiership reserve outfit. It's incredibly probable that Thompson's goal tally, come May, will be up there with David Healy et al.
Fee: Free

Matt Heath and Rui Marquez are looking like the central defensive partnership for the rest of the season, the way things stand. Heath has a fairly bland quality about him, brought on largely by his inconsistency thus far for the Whites. Early on, Heath looked mostly inadequate and made a hog-tied Paul Butler seem an attractive proposition. However, as he's had time to settle in and forge a partnership with Marquez, Heath looks like he could be a solid influence at the back. The Leicester-born defender does seem to have a bit of fire in his belly though – he doesn't back out of challenges and, thus far, hasn't turned his back on a shot. With that in mind, he could be just what Wise and United need for the tough relegation battle that lies ahead.
Fee: Free.

Tresor Kandol has looked quite out of his depth since his arrival from lowly Barnet. After a disappointing loan spell United fans seemed to think that they would never see him in a Leeds shirt ever again. In the few games he had played in his loan spell, he looked lax and showed no dynamism. However, the gaffer must have seen something on the training pitch that was special because he has splashed out £200k for Congolese hitman. Since seeing his move made permanent Kandol has actually reacted well and makes himself a nuisance for opposition defenders. However it really doesn't look as if he has the attacking prowess to be a success in this division. In fact, rather than adding an extra dimension like Flo, Kandol seems to be a downgrade model of youngster Jermaine Beckford. It's hard to see Kandol getting a real look in this season although injuries to Healy, Flo and Cresswell will ensure that he gets a chance to prove that he does have ‘it' – I'm not convinced he does though.

Fee: £200k

Graham Stack's loan signature seems like a sensible decision by Wise. He does look capable in this division and will provide a bit of healthy competition. However Stack does seem prone to silly mistakes – paltry positioning and the occasional fumble have cost Leeds goals, even if he does perform well for the rest of the game. Thus far he has shown nothing to suggest that his game is no more than a clone of Tony Warner's – he's depressingly average if anything. It's hard to see Stack being the regular now than Ankergren has arrived although adding depth to the keeping pool certainly isn't a bad thing – especially seeing as he's only on loan. No fee, no risk.

Fee: Free (loan).

Casper Ankergren has arrived from Danish bridesmaids Brøndby IF and looks set to be the preferred choice in-between the sticks. Without having played yet, it's hard to judge him. A little disheartening is the fact that we almost had the man who ousted him from the Brøndby starting XI – Jesper Christiansen, once of Charlton. Perhaps this is harsh though as Christiansen was probably not the kind of player a relegation battling Championship side could entice to play for them – especially considering he has a shot at European football with Brøndby. Either way it will be interesting to see how the whole transfer pans out. He's signed on loan with a view to a permanent deal in the summer, should United want to uptake that option, so there is nothing really to lose – hopefully he can keep more clean sheets than his predecessors have.
Fee: Free (loan).

Hayden Foxe was technically a Kevin Blackwell signing, although Wise has seen enough in the fiery-haired defender to extend his short-term deal. Foxe has been a bit hit and miss so far this season. Sometimes he looks capable of holding the fort but at other times he looks brutally unfit and clumsy. Foxe's strengths at the moment seem to be that he can read the game well – the big problem being that, at times, he struggles to keep up with the game. Still, he's a decent back-up player to have for Rui Marquez and Matt Heath – certainly Championship standard at the very least.
Fee: Free.

Ilan Bachar isn't such a high-key signature but Wise has seen enough of him in a short trial to offer him a short-term deal. Bachar's reputation doesn't really suggest that he will be a smash hit – he signs for United on a free transfer after seeing his contract terminated by Hakoah Maccabi Amidar/Ramat Gan, an Israeli outfit who were promoted to the top flight last season. Bachar has played one reserve game since signing on and did play well. However it is hard to see where he will fit in the side, as he's a right back. He seems to be behind Frazer Richardson, Gary Kelly and Armando Sa for the position – perhaps he won't even get a chance in the first time during his stay in England.
Fee: Free.

Other trialists have come and gone in January although, bar Bachar, none of them have done enough to persuade the gaffer to give them a contract. It's like the Kevin Blackwell era all over again.
Fee: Free.

Total: £200k.

Players Out;

Matthew Kilgallon is the big departure from Elland Road in January. Killa left to join Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United in a £1.75m deal (which could rise to £2m dependant on performances). It's a shame to see him go but, as a man who showed so much promise as a youngster, he has hardly set the world alight. An average season last year and a pretty poor start to the 06/07 campaign would suggest that he won't be too missed assuming the money gained from the transfer was spent on a replacement. However it hasn't been spent. Instead it has probably gone towards fabulous new drapes in the seemingly inane Billy's Bar.
Fee: £1.75m (potential value of transfer is £2m).

Geoff Horsfield's departure will be a good thing if Wise isn't telling porkies. The Horse was a player signed under the Blackwell era and did show a bit of promise as a targetman for Leeds. However, Wise bemoaned the burly forward's attitude, fitness and “constant unprofessional requests”. Two goals in fifteen appearances is certainly nothing to be proud of although his ability to hold up the ball will be missed – until Cresswell returns anyway.

Fee: Free (loan).

Ugo Ehiogu impressed on his loan spell from Middlesbrough. The experienced defender was looking good to earn a permanent deal after some solid performances, despite United's fairly weak results. However Wise decided to send him packing when the defender stated that he couldn't possibly play two games in the space of three days. Whether this brash move proves to be good will remain to be seen. Perhaps if he wasn't capable of playing under the intensive Championship schedule he shouldn't have been signed. However his class was apparent at times and he really did organise the backline well. SPL giants Rangers have seen enough in him to sign him up – he'll either turn out to be a journeyman after one last pay day or a solid, regular. Either way, Leeds and everyone associated with the club will keep a keen eye on his future career.
Fee: Free (loan).

Sean Gregan didn't really have the dream move that he expected when he moved to Leeds. At times he was absolutely fantastic – particularly in his first season. However his influence waned as Blackwell was able to bring in higher quality competition in midfield. This prompted Gregan to try to fit in at the back although he suffered the same fate as he had done in midfield. The way in which Gregan was treated by a minority of Leeds fans was pretty disgraceful – the incident involving his family being harassed was appalling. Although he wasn't fast and was prone to errors, hopefully Gregan will be remembered for his hard tackling, good vision and his hard-man strut. Did a useful job but is no longer required – he won't be missed now that he's seen his contract ripped up.
Fee: Free.

Jermaine Beckford has hardly set the world, never mind West Yorkshire, alight since his move from non-league. However quite why Dennis Wise has decided to let him go out on loan is rather bemusing. Granted, the former RAC worker is not Championship quality yet – but neither is Kandol, who Leeds actually paid some money for. In most fans' eyes Kandol and Beckford play a similar game – they are both pacy, lightweight forwards who can cause trouble against unwieldy and ‘large' Championship defenders, at times. He showed great promise in his earlier loan spell at Carlisle and hopefully he will return a better player when he returns from his loan spell at Scunthorpe United. Not a big loss considering attacking clone Kandol is in the team but perhaps his loan was unnecessary. £200k unnecessary in fact.
Fee: Free (loan).

Paul Butler didn't look like he would be going anywhere at the start of the season. The former Wolves and Sunderland man had established himself in the Leeds first team by virtue of a black armband. However when Blackwell was replaced, things started going downhill for Butler. Wise's vision wasn't impaired by that black armband – he saw what Leeds fans had been seeing for the entire season: a frail and slow defence. Butler was immediately stripped of his captaincy in favour of a long-term crocked new-boy – now there's a morale deflator if I ever saw one. He had a few futile appearances under Wise before being shipped out on loan to MK Dons and then, later, having his contract ripped up by Bates. Butler was a success in his first two seasons at Leeds: he cemented Leeds' position as a Championship club in the first and authorized the removal of the stabilizers; in his second season he took us to the play-off final. However, like Gregan, his time in Leeds was up.
Fee: Free.

Total: £1.75m (potential value of income is £2m).