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Two left-backs left Leeds United on transfer deadline day. One was very much expected, the other was a real shock to the fanbase.
First, Tom Pearce went to Wigan Athletic for a fee believed to be around £300k. It had been expected that Pearce would join Barnsley but there was late interest from Wigan and they were able to get the deal done.
Just want to say thankyou to all the players and staff @LUFC over the past few years. I’ve had some great memories which will stay with me forever.
— Tom Pearce (@Tompearce98) August 8, 2019
A massive thankyou to the fans who have supported me from the minute I stepped out at Elland Road pic.twitter.com/ZLcm2ot3NT
Pearce broke into the struggling Leeds side managed (if you can call it that) by Paul Heckingbottom and played five matches at the end of the 2017/18 season. Scoring his only goal for the first team in a 2-1 win over Barnsley.
The fee for Tom Pearce to Barnsley is expected to be around the £500k mark. Should be one that’s done before deadline day tomorrow. #barnsleyfc #lufc pic.twitter.com/SOK5m6bHMo
— Tom Carnduff (@TomC_22) August 7, 2019
He earned very good reviews and was linked with moves to the Premier League, mainly AFC Bournemouth and Everton, but Leeds were able to sign him to a new contract. He also picked up six England U20 caps and two for the U21 side.
Once Marcelo Bielsa arrived at the club he dropped down the pecking order and on the occasions he did get a chance he didn’t look as impressive as he had the previous season. He had a loan spell at Scunthorpe United but by all accounts he wasn’t at his best.
✍️ SIGNING | @Tompearce98 signs for Latics from Leeds United for an undisclosed fee.
— Wigan Athletic (@LaticsOfficial) August 8, 2019
Pearce, 21, has signed a three-year deal @DWStadium #wafc ⚪️
The more shocking move was Clarke Oduor moving on to Barnsley, signing a four-year deal with the South Yorkshire side.
On the surface, Leeds selling a 20-year-old left-back/winger who has one senior appearance for the club (coming on in the 85th minute against QPR in the FA Cup) makes sense. However, Oduor seemed to be highly thought of by both the fans and the club and was a player some were tipping to have some involvement this season - particularly following his involvement in Leeds’ pre-season tour of Australia.
Oduor to Barnsley on a permanent. Which is a turnaround because at the start of the summer, he was being spoken about as one of the U23s who might break through:https://t.co/mj9wvDlqfo
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) August 8, 2019
The move will give him a better chance of playing first team football and will probably get him a pay rise so it is a good move for him. However, many fans saw potential in him during Leeds U23s title winning 2018/19 season and would have rather seen a loan move than a permanent switch.
Really surprised by Oduor leaving permanently, should have been a loan. Can play left back, left wing and midfield comfortably. If you watch this video you'll see a lot of our goals come from his runs down the left. #LUFC https://t.co/W2k1kouODT
— FocusOnLeeds (@FocusOnLeeds) August 8, 2019
He will also have plenty of familiar faces at his new club, Oduor being the fourth player to move from Leeds to Barnsley this summer.
Do you think either of these deals will come back to haunt Leeds? Let us know in the comments or at @mightywhitespod or @ThruItAllLUFC on twitter.