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Leeds United: Softly, softly is the Grayson way.Date: 21 May 2010
By Phil Hay
Simon Grayson insisted today that his transfer strategy was comfortably in hand and vowed not to be drawn into questionable signings by an urge to make rapid additions to the squad at Leeds United.
Grayson said he would stick to his usual method of quiet, patient transfer dealings during a close-season when he is expected to recruit at least half-a-dozen players in preparation for a return to the Coca-Cola Championship.
United's manager is undertaking a second overhaul of his squad having revised the club's group last summer with the intention of winning automatic promotion from League One.
Leeds achieved that aim a fortnight ago, rejoining the Championship after three seasons away, but Grayson made no secret of the need for new blood as he looked ahead to next season, saying that "every step up has to be made with an improvement to the squad".
His work this summer is likely to be more substantial than it was 12 months ago, when Grayson set about addressing a squad who had lost in League One's play-off semi-finals, but he said he felt no pressure to make quick signings with the start of pre-season training five weeks away.
"In an ideal world, you'd like to get a couple of players in straight away," he said. "You'd also like to have a large number of your signings completed in time for pre-season, but the market isn't that simple.
"I've got a clear idea about what I want to do, the sort of players I'd like to bring here and the strength of squad I need when the season starts. I've given this summer a lot of thought, for weeks and months, and I've got a clear plan in my head. I'll back myself to pull it off.
"I take the view that the important thing is how your squad looks at the start of the season. Don't get me wrong, you want your business done as quickly as possible, but if certain deals have to wait until the last minute then so be it.
"Other clubs have got business to do and some players want to keep their options open.
"I'm not a manager who's happy making signings for the sake of it or just to be able to say that I've done a few deals. I want the right people and that's more important than ever this summer."Grayson and his existing squad flew to Dubai for a short break last Friday but United's manager returned to work on Wednesday morning, hours after jetting back to England.
The former Blackpool coach has a more attractive proposition to present to potential signings than he did last year, when Leeds were contemplating a third season in League One and making hard work of persuading players to drop beneath the Championship with a view to winning promotion.
His success in the transfer market before the transfer window closes at the end of August will be dictated in part by the budget available to him but Grayson does not expect his dealings to be complicated by a reluctance to come to Elland Road.
"It's always been an attractive club but I can't deny that persuading players to come and play in League One was difficult at times," he said.
"It's not Leeds United that puts them off but the division, and I can understand that. If you're a talented player with a lot of ambition then League One doesn't always seem like a great move.
"In a way it should be easier to attract people this summer – because we're in a much better position – but I still want to see that the players who want to come here are coming for the right reasons.
"I've got my budget and I'll spend it wisely, to make sure we do the best we can with the money we've got.
"I said as soon as we got promoted that we needed new players but I don't think you have to spend millions of pounds to have a good go in the Championship.
"What you want is a balanced team with quality in the right places and players who are here because they're enthusiastic about trying to taking us forward. "I won't be rushed into putting the squad together."United have been linked with countless targets since the season finished, some of whom have already agreed deals elsewhere.
Maltese striker Daniel Bogdanovic is close to signing for Sheffield United having claimed that Leeds were one of several clubs keen on taking him at the end of his contract with Barnsley.
Reports stating that Bogdanovic had sealed a move to Bramall Lane yesterday were dismissed as "premature", though the Blades confirmed that negotiations were "moving closer to an agreement".
Grayson said Leeds would "do our business in private, the proper way".
The trip to Dubai with his players was a final gathering before United's squad departed for a lengthy holiday, leaving their manager to chip away at the transfer market before the start of pre-season training in early July.
Grayson admitted that United's promotion – achieved on the last day of the season a fortnight ago – had taken time to sink in but said the four-day break in the Middle East had helped to reiterate the significance of the club's achievement.
"A few of us met up with the Dubai Whites Members Club out there and they were showing highlights of the Bristol Rovers game," Grayson said.
"It's that sort of moment, when you're surrounded by 60 or 70 supporters, thousands of miles from Leeds, when you realise what it means to everyone. It's just about sunk in now.
"But you never get much time to reflect and I was back in the office as soon as we got home. I'll get a few days away at some point, but your job never stops. The hard work you do now pays off later."
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/Leeds-United-Softly-softly-is.6310376.jp
