Daniel Farke came tantalisingly close to securing everything he desired in the final throes of the transfer window for Leeds United.
The Leeds boss had initially set his sights on four new signings, which he duly secured, but he had also made it clear that he had his eyes on an additional attacking midfielder.
Over the final eight days of the window, Leeds added Largie Ramazani, Manor Solomon, Ao Tanaka, and Isaac Schmidt to their ranks. This flurry of activity has left Leeds with one of the most formidable squads in the Championship.
However, it was Schmidt’s arrival late on deadline day that raised the most eyebrows. The 22-year-old joined from FC St Gallen just 24 hours after scoring for the Swiss side in a Europa Conference League play-off final against Trabzonspor.
Schmidt’s move was the eighth and final addition for Leeds, and it carries a sense of intrigue. Despite his potential, he is something of an unknown quantity in English football, and it remains to be seen how he will adapt to the rigours of the Championship.
His introduction to Elland Road comes with a significant challenge. Leeds already boast considerable depth in the full-back positions, where Schmidt is expected to operate.
Junior Firpo and Jayden Bogle currently hold down the first-choice roles, meaning Schmidt will be competing with Sam Byram for a place in the starting eleven. How Farke chooses to deploy Schmidt in this crowded field will be one of the more intriguing subplots of Leeds’ season.
Farke, of course, would have been acutely aware of the competition Schmidt would face upon his arrival. Before signing on the dotted line, Schmidt would have sought assurances about his prospects for playing time.
In his first interview with Leeds United’s YouTube channel, Schmidt shed light on his discussions with Farke, revealing the manager’s confidence in him.
“He told me he is happy to have me and trusting me, and that we will make big things together,” Schmidt said.
The German manager’s familiarity with Wilfried Gnonto, one of Leeds’ brightest talents, could play a role in Schmidt’s integration. Schmidt knows Gnonto well, having faced the Italian during his time in the Swiss Super League.
Gnonto, who joined Leeds from FC Zurich last year, left a lasting impression on Schmidt. In fact, one of Schmidt’s rare red cards in Swiss football came from a challenge on the rapid Gnonto.
Reflecting on their previous encounters, Schmidt is now relieved to be on the same side as the Italian.
“I’ve played against him when he was at Zurich. I am happy to be in the same team as him now because he was really good. Too fast, I got a red card because of him. It’s better as teammates,” Schmidt quipped.
As the dust settles on the transfer window, Farke can reflect on a job well done. Leeds’ squad now looks capable of mounting a serious promotion challenge, but the pressure will be on Schmidt and the other new arrivals to justify the club’s faith in them.