Leeds United Romano Schmid stance and 49ers Enterprises' transfer talk track record

You can never say never in a transfer window and Schmid remains a player the Whites admire, but the YEP understands they have not spoken about the number 10 position since they filled it with Buonanotte on Thursday.

Leeds’ owners 49ers Enterprises prefer to do business in relative quiet. When the YEP broke news of Lukas Nmecha’s arrival from Germany last summer the deal was all-but signed and was confirmed hours later. Similarly Sebastiaan Bornauw’s signing was almost completely concluded when the YEP reported he was close to completing a move from Wolfsburg. And again last week, when it was first reported by Fabrizio Romano that Buonanotte was joining Leeds the player was already in the building. But 49ers’ track record since taking over Leeds has shown a policy of openly confirming interest in players that are legitimate targets if asked the question directly by the media. When Jaka Bijol’s name was put to the club last summer they admitted he was a target but said a deal could take time to complete and so it proved. Last week Leeds confirmed they had made an enquiry for Jorgen Strand Larsen, adding context of the difficulties involved. Yet in the case of Schmid, Leeds have held their hands up to admiring the player and considering him this month, but they are adamant they are not currently moving forward with that interest.

Reports emerged on social media on Sunday evening suggesting that Leeds were in active talks for the 25-year-old Austrian whose profile would have made him a prime candidate for a longstanding Elland Road vacancy. Boss Daniel Farke wanted a natural number 10 when he arrived at the club and turned Georginio Rutter into that kind of player in his first season. Attempts to land Emi Buendia in his second summer fell short and Farke publicly admitted that was the kind of player his squad was missing for a 2024/25 campaign that ended with 100 points and a Championship title regardless.

Last summer Leeds spent the final week of the window trying desperately to get a right winger who could also come inside and play as a number 10 and twice thought they had their man with deals all-but done for Buonanotte and Fulham's Harry Wilson. In both cases there were last-minute changes of heart. Chelsea turned Buonanotte's head and Fulham turned away from the idea of selling Wilson. While Buonanotte's decision did not pay off with scant game time and an eventual early termination of his loan at Chelsea, Fulham have benefitted to the tune of seven goals and four assists from Wilson. Both men were at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon as Wilson and the Cottagers returned to London empty handed, with new Leeds loan signing Buonanotte an unused substitute.

The YEP understands that Buonanotte's arrival ticked the attacking midfielder box for Leeds and it would only take some unforeseen circumstances to draw them back to the table for Schmid. They were in talks over a deal, although had not made an offer and would not have made one at the price quoted by Sunday's reports from transfer journalists. But multiple club sources insist that their attention is now on the centre forward position and possibilities in the current market to sign another targetman. Schmid could be a target they return to in a later window but it is not an active pursuit as it stands.

Strand Larsen of Wolves is one Leeds have enquired about, though a deal would need to be structured in such a way that they do not fall foul of Profitability and Sustainability rules. A loan to buy would be easier, though Leeds could also look to make a fringe player a makeweight in order to ease the pressure on their PSR position. Wolves are yet to make a decision on Leeds' interest but Strand Larsen is known to be on the radar of several clubs in the bottom half of the Premier League.