An exodus was to be expected – dropping into the second tier all-but guaranteed the exits of some high profile players - and yet there was still room for surprises in terms of players who stayed to defy expectation and those who suddenly couldn’t wait to get out of Elland Road.
Leeds went into the summer quite prepared to say goodbye to some of those who did leave the club, although it wasn’t immediately clear just how many had relegation exit clauses that would facilitate loans or indeed how many would activate them. They also set their stall out to retain a number of players highlighted by 49ers Enterprises as key to the promotion charge. Max Wober, Tyler Adams, Willy Gnonto and Jack Harrison were among those Leeds desperately wanted to keep at Elland Road, believing retention to be just as key as incoming recruitment in some cases.
By the time the window shut last week, however, Wober, Adams and Harrison were long gone. Remaining were a small number of players who had been expected to go. Although the madness was not over with until deadline day itself, the recruitment Leeds got over the line helped to turn the summer narrative around from one of bitter negativity to relative contentment, albeit with left-back and number 10 wishes going unfulfilled. Daniel Farke’s squad now has a solid look to it. The German says he is pretty happy with how it has turned out and ultimately Leeds have rid themselves of individuals who had no desire to stay and fight, or even right the wrong for which they were partly responsible.
Prior to Farke’s appointment the YEP published predictions on how the squad rebuild would go, in terms of retention and exits, and here’s how we got on.
By the time the window shut last week, however, Wober, Adams and Harrison were long gone. Remaining were a small number of players who had been expected to go. Although the madness was not over with until deadline day itself, the recruitment Leeds got over the line helped to turn the summer narrative around from one of bitter negativity to relative contentment, albeit with left-back and number 10 wishes going unfulfilled. Daniel Farke’s squad now has a solid look to it. The German says he is pretty happy with how it has turned out and ultimately Leeds have rid themselves of individuals who had no desire to stay and fight, or even right the wrong for which they were partly responsible.
![We suggested he would stay and could start, given his Championship experience last season with Millwall and he did stay, and start. Joe Rodon has now taken the youngster's spot but he'll see more involvement.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjkwNjE0NzEwLTE5M2MtNGViZS1iODJlLTUwYzJhODAxOWMzOTo0ZTEyOWMwOS00ZWZkLTQ1NDAtOTkxNy0yNDkxYjMxODhlN2Y=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
13. Charlie Cresswell
We suggested he would stay and could start, given his Championship experience last season with Millwall and he did stay, and start. Joe Rodon has now taken the youngster's spot but he'll see more involvement.Photo: Jess Hornby
![Never in doubt. No one was predicting anything but Cooper staying at Elland Road and though the Saudi interest in him wasn't forecast, it wasn't enough to bring a surprise outcome.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmVmNTMwMzcwLTUyODAtNDE3ZC05MjdjLWRiNjcwMjU4MGEwYTpmM2M2OTE2YS0yOWNmLTQ2MjctYjIxNi0xMWY0ZjQ3YzA1MjU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
14. Liam Cooper
Never in doubt. No one was predicting anything but Cooper staying at Elland Road and though the Saudi interest in him wasn't forecast, it wasn't enough to bring a surprise outcome.Photo: Alex Caparros
![A player whose injury situation dictated in the main, but he would have stayed regardless.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjE0NWYzMzYyLTY1NjctNDFmZi04NzI1LWQ1YjY2YTQ1YzQ2YToyNzA2MDQ4NC04ODFlLTQzMmItYTE4OS0wNmM1YWE1MjVlOTY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
15. Stuart Dallas
A player whose injury situation dictated in the main, but he would have stayed regardless.Photo: Naomi Baker
![We pondered if a pay-as-you-play deal could work. Leeds initially released Forshaw and then did indeed offer something, but the midfielder didn't take it. He's at Norwich now](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjBhN2QyOGI0LThhMzktNDQ2Zi1hNjkzLWNmMzczOGY0OGViNzo2ODI5M2Q1My0zZjYwLTRlOGYtOGEzYi1hMWNkOGIyMDJhYTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
16. Adam Forshaw
We pondered if a pay-as-you-play deal could work. Leeds initially released Forshaw and then did indeed offer something, but the midfielder didn't take it. He's at Norwich nowPhoto: Stu Forster
![We weren't wrong when we said there was a good chance he would go. We just didn't see it coming quite as acrimoniously as it did. Bridges well and truly torched so a permanent deal and not a loan was probably best for all concerned.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmY0ZmFmMDQwLTk3MDQtNDFkZC04ZGZmLTkwYzI5MWY4NDQ5NDpiNDQ1ODBiZi1hNGQ4LTQzODUtOGI4OS1hMWI1YzY0NDVlMTE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
17. Tyler Adams
We weren't wrong when we said there was a good chance he would go. We just didn't see it coming quite as acrimoniously as it did. Bridges well and truly torched so a permanent deal and not a loan was probably best for all concerned.Photo: George Wood
!['Might decide he needs a move' is how we put it. He did feel like that. Leeds weren't making much noise about trying to dissuade him. Roca also had a loan clause and went to Real Betis.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmNjMDQyOGY2LTc2ZjMtNGUyYy05MzM5LTU5NzhkMzA5ZDg3NDo5NjVhNjU5OC05NzIyLTRiMTAtOGY2OS03MTM3ZmFjYTM2Mzg=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
18. Marc Roca
'Might decide he needs a move' is how we put it. He did feel like that. Leeds weren't making much noise about trying to dissuade him. Roca also had a loan clause and went to Real Betis.Photo: Aitor Alcalde