Handful of Leeds United stars endure disastrous starts to loan spells after Elland Road departures

It was a hectic summer transfer window for Leeds United as several big name players departed for pastures new ahead of the new season.

The £35m sale of academy product Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur hurt more than any as the highly-rated England Under-21 star became a key part of the Whites setup during what would be his only season in the senior setup at Elland Road. However, there were other lucrative sales as the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter also secured moves into the Premier League after failing to help Leeds secure a return to the top flight last season. Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Robin Koch and Luke Ayling also departed after spending loan spells away from Elland Road last season.

However, the summer transfer window also saw five other members of Daniel Farke’s side make season-long loan moves away from the club - and it would be safe to say they have mostly endured poor starts to the new campaign with their temporary employers.

Jack Harrison - Everton

For the second season in a row, the Whites winger will ply his trade at Goodison Park after scoring four goals and providing three assists in 35 appearances in all competitions for the Toffees last season. The new campaign has already been something of a disaster for Everton after they emerged without a single point from home games with Brighton and Bournemouth, as well as an away day at Tottenham Hotspur. Harrison started all three games and is yet to provide a goal of an assist. His only success came with a second-half substitute appearance in a 3-0 win over Doncaster Rovers in a Carabao Cup second round tie last week. Everton head into the first international break of the season sat at the bottom of the Premier League table.

Rasmus Kristensen - Eintracht Frankfurt

Kristensen also spent last season away from Elland Road after linking up with Serie A club Roma last summer. He made a similar move to Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt this summer and has appeared in all three of their competitive fixtures so far this season. After making a winning start with a 4-1 win over Braunschweig in a German Cup tie, Kristensen’s side were beaten by Borussia Dortmund on the opening day of the Bundesliga campaign - but bounced back with a 3-1 home win against Hoffenheim at the weekend. Kristensen has played each and every minute of all three competitive fixtures.

Sam Greenwood - Preston North End

Greenwood and Preston have endured a challenging start to the new Championship season after losing three of their first four league fixtures. The Whites midfielder has featured in all four games, starting two and coming on as a substitute in the other two games. After opening their season with a 2-0 home defeat against Sheffield United in what turned out to be Ryan Lowe’s final game in charge of the club, Preston fell to a 3-0 loss at Swansea City. A 1-0 home win against Luton Town provided some positivity but it was a temporary upturn as a 3-1 defeat at Oxford United left Greenwood’s sat just outside of the Championship relegation zone. The Carabao Cup has offered some respite for Preston after they beat second tier rivals Sunderland in the first round before Greenwood netted twice in a 5-0 hammering of League Two Harrogate Town last week.

Darko Gyabi - Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth’s difficult start under new manager Wayne Rooney has been well publicised as the Manchester United and England legend awaits the first league win of his reign. Gyabi has started three of Argyle’s four Championship fixtures as his side gained draws against Hull City and QPR and fell to defeats to Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City. The former Manchester City midfielder also started both of Argyle’s Carabao Cup ties as they eased to a 3-0 win against Cheltenham Town in the first round before seeing their run abruptly ended by a 2-0 defeat against Championship rivals Watford last week.

Sonny Perkins - Leyton Orient

The Whites youngster is yet to start a league game for Orient after they emerged without a solitary point from their opening four League One fixtures. Perkins has made substitute appearances as his temporary employers suffered defeats against Bolton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic, Birmingham City and Shrewsbury Town to head into Saturday’s home game with Peterborough United at the bottom of the third tier table. Perkins has started in Carabao Cup wins against Newport County and Millwall as Orient set up a third round visit to Premier League club Brentford.