Phillips issues ‘huge’ Leeds claim after Hay’s January transfer reveal
Kevin Phillips has slammed the Leeds United hierarchy for “naivety” in their planning for the Premier League.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Sunderland and Aston Villa striker said the club’s recruitment policy could come back to bite them this season.
Marcelo Bielsa’s squad has been exposed this month following injuries to a number of key personnel.
According to The Athletic‘s Phil Hay last Wednesday (22 December), the club believed big expenditure in year one followed by lower expenditure in year two would be enough for two seasons.
However, the theory would appear to have come up short with the Whites embroiled in a relegation battle having finished ninth last season.
When asked by Football Insider for his assessment of Leeds’ planning, Phillips said: “When you look at Leeds, I think there is a lot of naivety.
“The squad is simply not big enough. They have not go back-up in areas pivotal areas and everyone can see it and everyone has been saying it. They don’t have any back-up for [Patrick] Bamford or [Kevin] Phillips really.
“To invest heavily in year one and not in year two is a strange plan. You have to keep investing to survive in the Premier League. Everyone else is getting better and strong.
“I hope it doesn’t come back to bite them in the backside come the end of the season. I don’t think it will. They have enough I think.
“Is their model going to bring success? I don’t think it will. Recruitment is huge. You need to have quality players in the starting XI and in the background.”
In other news, Leeds backed to sign 27-year-old who starred in Premier League last season after inside source’s update.