Jordan Miles has Leeds United trial to improve wasteful loan spells in 23/24 – See

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Being in the Championship, Leeds United need to use the loan market to improve their squad and they also need a much better strike rate than last season.

When Leeds were promoted in 19/20, a few loan spells were vital to the club’s form in securing the league title, none more so than Ben White, while Illan Meslier, Helder Costa and Eddie Nketiah contributed to varying degrees.

It’s almost impossible to have a 100% success rate in transfers, especially with loans, given that the parent club sanctions the deal for one reason or another rather than playing them in their own team.

Leeds’ loan spells in 23/24 were generally not successful enough

Joe Rodon has been a resounding success for Leeds since joining on loan from the fringes of the Tottenham squad in August 2023.

His addition has brought superb defensive quality to the side, aerial presence at the back and solid work in possession to go with it.

However, he was the only positive among the group of players Leeds signed on loan, which also included: Djed Spence, Jaidon Anthony and Connor Roberts.

One of those only came about because another was dropped in January after showing worrying commitment issues and an unwillingness to change that, earning him a one-in-four (25%) success rating for signings loan from Leeds.

Will Leeds be promoted next season?

Jordan Miles needs to find more successful loan opportunities

Finding five Joe Rodons to fill loan spots in Leeds’ Championship side is easier said than done because it’s so rare that a player of this quality isn’t wanted higher up or needed at their current club.

That said, with Leeds now having a much stronger recruitment structure, boasting a highly analytical head of recruitment in Jordan Miles, there’s no reason why Leeds can’t improve on their 25% success rate from last season.

Looking at Ipswich, the team that Leeds have missed the most, three of their loanees have proved to be surefire hits in Omari Hutchinson, Kieffer Moore and Jeremy Sarmiento.

Meanwhile, Southampton used him brilliantly with Flynn Downes, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, David Brooks, Ryan Fraser and Joe Rothwell all making a positive impact on their squad.

Hull City should also be included in this category of clubs, proving that it is not uncommon for a club’s season to be transformed by how well they utilize the top-flight loan market.

If Leeds rebuild and make two or three of their five loan slots more effective than last season, they are in a much better place to finish in the top two.