Leeds failed in £6m deadline day raid for Morocco playmaker; Farke eyed his own Pablo Hernandez with 14 goal contributions last season

James Marshment 02 Sep 2023 12:22 PM

Illias Chair of QPR and Jeremy Ngakia of Watford

Leeds United saw a late deadline day raid to try and sign Illias Chair fail – despite Daniel Farke’s side matching QPR’s £6m valuation of the Morocco international playmaker.

The Whites have just seen something of a wild summer transfer window slam shut. With Leeds bidding farewell to several of their players of last season, many of whom left on loan, there was still time for some last-minute drama thanks to Luis Sinisterra’s exit to Bournemouth. His exit sees Leeds sign Cherries winger Jaidon Anthony in return, though that deal is still subject to a medical.

In total, including Anthony, Leeds have made nine new additions and arguably have one of the most complete squads in the Championship. Admittedly, there remains some holes in it; their failure to add a new left-back, together with the lack of a creative midfielder does leave Farke with some problems to solve.

Now it has emerged that Leeds, in fact, did try and bring in another new arrival on deadline day in the form of talented Morocco playmaker Chair.

The 12-times capped attacking midfielder is the star of the show for Championship rivals QPR. Having arrived at the club as a trialist in 2017, the now 25-year-old has developed into one of the division’s outstanding playmakers.

Also capable of playing off the wing, Leeds reportedly tabled a £6m bid for Chair on deadline day. The offer matched QPR’s asking price and, per the Daily Mirror’s Darren Witcoop was one the R’s were happy to accept.

Ultimately, however, QPR decided not to accept Leeds’ proposal with the offer coming too late in the window for them to find a replacement of their own.

Chair move too late in the day for Leeds

It remains to be seen if Leeds will resurrect their interest in Chair in the January window. Leicester were also reportedly sniffing around his signature but held off from making a move.

The playmaker would have been the perfect addition for Leeds, with the Whites lacking an obvious central playmaker ever since Pablo Hernandez’s exit at the end of the 2020/21 season.

Chair finished last season with five goals and nine assists 40 appearances. Around better players, at Leeds for example, he could have taken his game on to the next level.

Sadly, however, it was not meant to be and, while Leeds did add to their midfield in the form of Illia Gruev, Glen Kamara and Ethan Ampadu, the trio are not known for their goals or creativity.

Leeds do have Georginio Rutter who can play as a 10, while another new signing Joel Piroe did drop deeper on debut at Ipswich last week.

Alternatively, Leeds also have a bench option in Joe Gelhardt, whom Leeds rejected a number of deadline day offers for.

Leeds United