Leeds United have seen a host of players prefer a move to the Premier League over a move to Elland Road during the summer transfer window.
The opportunity to play Premier League football made all the difference for ex-Leeds United target Cameron Archer when deciding his future this summer. Archer was one player that appeared on Leeds’ list during the transfer window as Daniel Farke looked to add attacking options to his new look Whites squad.
However, much to Angus Kinnear’s disappointment, as he revealed in an interview with The Square Ball last week, Archer favoured the opportunity to stay in the top flight. As such, he eventually joined newly promoted Sheffield United for an £18million fee.
Leeds eventually opted to sign Joel Piroe and with one goal to his name already this season, they’ll be hoping the former Swansea City man can score the goals required to push them back into the Premier League. To Archer’s credit, he got his Blades career off to the best possible start last time out, bagging a goal on his debut against Everton before seeing another effort cannon off Jordan Pickford and into the net for an own goal.
And, as he strives to make his name at the elite level, he has been speaking about why he chose Bramall Lane over Elland Road.
“Premier League football, passionate fans, a big club,” he said, as per Yorkshire Live. “You just have that feeling when a club is interested, I had that feeling about Sheffield United.”
He added: “I’m going to try and keep the club up this season, the most important thing. We don’t like to look too much into the future, take each game as it comes and keep our heads down and keep working.
“From last Saturday I have that belief now, I can use that and keep my head down, keep working hard.”
Archer wasn’t the only player Leeds were pipped to by the Blades over the summer with Gustavo Hamer opting to make the step up in competition from Coventry City. Leeds are said to have seen Hamer as a viable option after his heroics in a Sky Blues shirt last time around, but they couldn’t compete with the lure of top-flight football.
It was the same story with Luke Thomas, too, who joined Paul Heckingbottom’s side from Leicester City on loan, despite Leeds showing interest.