Simon Grayson will target experienced players in the transfer market this summer, but he has also hinted that a couple of the club’s youngsters might get a chance in the coming season.
The manager told the Yorkshire Post “We probably need a little bit more experience. There have been times when we have shot ourselves in the foot, such as when we were 4-1 up against Preston at home and then lost 6-4. We also lost at Barnsley when we were sitting comfortably, but we have the nucleus of a good squad."
I would guess that Grayson will be looking to recruit a left-back (due to the continuing doubts over Ben Parker) a central defender and a decent defensive midfielder, especially if the club fails to agree terms with Bradley Johnson. And with the departure of Higgs, we are presumably in the hunt for another goalkeeper as cover for Kasper Scmeichel.
But it looks like we have a ready-made replacement for Kilkenny, as Ramon Nunez will join up with the squad in pre-season, as the club has taken the option to extend his contract for another year. The Honduran international has earned rave reviews during his loan spell at Scunthorpe United, which according to one of their fan sites “has seen him drive himself straight into many Iron fans' hearts permanently”. He scored three times in eight games for the Iron, including an absolute cracker on the final day of the season.
And we also have a couple of the younger players coming back from successful loan players. Aidy White made 24 appearances for Oldham, and Tom Lees played 50 times for Bury, as the Shakers won promotion from League Two. "We've been keeping a check on them both so we know how they've done and we'll look forward to having them back with us. They are two players we hold in high regard so we will see where we are them after pre-season and how things go."
Lees in particular has impressed, and as a central defender he could well get an opportunity in a position where Leeds have been vulnerable in the season just gone. Fellow Academy product Will Hatfield has also returned from a loan spell at York City, and Adam Clayton will be back from MK Dons in the new season. Oh, and Bessone will also be back from Charlton, so we can but hope and pray that his form will be a lot better than anything he showed us last season.
Let’s hope it all comes together by the time the new season starts in August.