Speaking to Football League World (11 September), the broadcaster revealed Daniel Farke and the Whites were keen to add at least one left-back to their ranks before the transfer deadline but were unable to get a deal for either Thomas or Taylor over the line.
Burnley were unwilling to allow Taylor to depart due to their limited options in the full-back position, while Leicester City didn’t want to allow Thomas to join a Championship rival on loan, with the 22-year-old instead joining Sheffield United temporarily.
Discussing the Whites’ approach, Jacobs said: “Multiple approaches were made but Leicester had no desire to loan to a Championship rival, so he [Thomas] ended up going to Sheffield United. Charlie Taylor at Burnley could have returned to Leeds as well, but there was no appetite on the Burnley part either.
“So Leeds tried, they were quite aggressive in their approach, particularly for Thomas, because they knew the urgency. But, they just couldn’t get that deal over the line.”
Left-back trouble
Another summer has come and gone and once again it feels as though Leeds United have failed to address their problem position of left-back, with Farke looking incredibly short of options on one side of his defence.
Sam Byram had seemingly solved that issue with his arrival on a short-term contract and he started the season well, before picking up an injury. With his previous record of poor fitness, you wouldn’t be surprised to see that occur once or twice more this season.
Junior Firpo seems to be closing in on a return to match fitness, but the former Barcelona man has been inconsistent throughout his time at Elland Road. Whether or not he will prove to be a better defender now Leeds have dropped into the Championship only time will tell.
There is also the chance that one of Djed Spence or Luke Ayling could make the switch to the left of defence as Farke looks to find a way to accommodate both of his right-backs after Spence impressed in a brief cameo after making the loan switch from Tottenham.
Leeds needed one of their two left-back options to arrive this summer, but it feels as though their hands were tied as they relied on other clubs getting their incomings done to allow the Whites’ targets to depart. Had Ian Maatsen made the switch to Turf Moor from Chelsea, maybe Taylor would have been allowed to join Farke’s side.
