What’s the matter with…Leeds United’s transfer paranoia?

If the media team at Leeds United are collecting highlights for the club’s 2014/15 DVD review they must have had more than a few days spent twiddling their thumbs so far.

The season started with an inexperienced manager in charge. Seven games later David Hockaday, who’d only ever managed at non-league level, was sacked with two wins and no draws forever etched on his Football League record.

Then came the hilariously orchestrated final hour of transfer deadline day, which did nothing but infuriate fans.

Now, reports have emerged that the club’s Italian chairman, Massimo Cellino, is convinced the Elland Road outfit will be placed under a transfer embargo in the January window due to the losses the Whites made each month under the former owners.

Leeds were estimated to be shelling £1m a month when Cellino took over last April, which would infringe the Football League’s Financial Fair Play laws.

Should those losses be deemed punishable when the club’s accounts are analysed in December, then transfers will be out of the question when the window reopens.

That looming ban could explain the Yorkshire-based side’s frantic summer activity, in which 15 new players arrived at the club.

But while storing footballers like a hamster stores food may prove a sensible option further down the line, keeping the squad – which currently totals 34 – happy until then will be problematic.

Ensuring footballers remain at peace with their playing time while employing a manager is often a task too tough for most, but with Leeds still boss-less following Hockaday’s sacking, Cellino has a veritable Everest to climb.

Currently sat 18th in the Championship after five games, Leeds are the third-favourites for relegation with Ladbrokes this season, at odds of 9/4.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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