Rosler Prepares for Promotion Challenge with Leeds United
18 Jul 2015 10:03pm, by Shields53
The direction that Leeds United will take under the new management of Uwe Rosler still remains unclear, but the club has made some headline signings in the summer transfer window. After recently securing Chris wood from Leicester City, Rosler has added four players to the squad so far. However, he says that the transfer business for Leeds in the summer will be complete with just a couple of players at the most. Betfair no longer backs the former Premier League outfit as one of the promotion favourites. In fact, Leeds are backed at a distant 10/1 in the Championship 2015 promotion odds.
Wood has signed a contract that will run until 2019 and the New Zealand international represents a significant addition to the forward line up. His signing comes just a week after the club had witnessed the arrival of Sol Bamba from Palermo. The 30-year-old is largely seen as a temporary signing after only a two-year contract. Leeds United do have inserted an option of a further 12 months depending upon his performances. Goalkeeper Charlie Horton and striker Lee Erwin are the other two signings.
Improving the squad was one of the first priorities for Rosler. The former Wigan Athletic manager had previously failed to get promotion while at the DW stadium. Rosler was granted only one more season at the DW stadium before being sacked towards the end of last season. The German may not have the luxury of two years at Elland road going by the longevity of the recent managers at the club since the arrival of owner Massimo Cellino. The club has gone through an astonishing nine managers since February 2012. Cellino may have promised stability at the time of appointing Rosler, but there appears to be little substance in his words.
For the time being, though, he has backed Rosler sufficiently in the transfer window. The German has identified the lack of pace as a crucial hindrance towards the team getting a strong set of results. Leeds may sign a few more players in the hope of adding some pace, but Rosler has confirmed that there will not be any significant departures from here on. The funds provided by Cellino seems sufficient for Leeds to strengthen without having to sell.
It is not surprising that the lack of stability has a lot to do with Leeds not finishing in the top half of the table since the 2011-12 season. In fact, since their return to the Championship after three years in League One, the club has come close to a play-off place only once. This situation has to change quickly if the club is to maintain their stature across world football. Leeds have not been a Premier League club since the 2003-04 campaign.
Going forward, the club need a lot of support from the fans in order to try and hope for a promotion challenge. The presence of homegrown players certainly helps in this regard, but there is a danger of Sam Byron leaving the club in this transfer window. The 21-year-old came through the ranks at Leeds and has been a first-team regular since his professional debut in the 2012-13 campaign. It has been reported that Everton are considering the possibility of making an offer for Byron should Seamus Coleman sign for Manchester United.
Despite being only 21, Byron has already featured in more than 100 appearances for Leeds. Rosler has quickly dismissed the transfer rumours surrounding the young defender.
Derby are the overwhelming favourites to get promoted in the 2015-16 campaign. Betfair backs the club, which appointed Paul Clement as its manager, at 2/1 whereas Hull are seen as second favourites at 3/1. Promotion to the Premier League is valuable than ever with clubs preparing to earn around £100 million every season. After a string of friendlies against the likes of Everton and Frankfurt, Leeds United begin the season with a home game against newly relegated Burnley.
