John Giles says that if Leeds United wish to survive in the Premier League next season, then purchasing Zlatan Ibrahimović and Edison Cavani is not the answer.
The former Republic of Ireland manager spoke to Off The Ball about his former team’s rise to the Premier League after 16 years in the lower tiers of English football.
He advises Leeds to believe in the players they currently have and allow the manager to purchase the players he wishes to develop the club.
“What I’d advise Leeds to do is spend the money and make 'x' amount available for the manager. Then let him pick who he wants to bring into the club. I think he will need advice on that, but I feel he could get someone he trusts that would get the players in.”
John Giles on Leeds
Giles admits he was worried hearing that Leeds were bidding for former PSG striker Edison Cavani and current AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimović, saying they are not the right men to drive the club forward.
“I was a little bit concerned when I heard that Leeds were interested in Cavani and Ibrahimović. They are not the type of players I’d be looking at to keep Leeds in the Premiership.
“Leeds need to spend money but if it’s spent in the right way and by the right people, then it’s okay.”
Giles says that many clubs that get promoted to the Premier League spend millions in the transfer window to compete with the bigger teams.
However, Giles does not feel that always works and it is rather the owners spending the money rather than the manager.
“Villa did it like a lot of other clubs, where they spent 140 million even though I don’t think Dean Smith spent that money.
"90% of football management is getting the players you want and getting the players out that you don’t want. That’s what the manager should be doing.
“If Leeds want to take a model, it has to be Wolves. Wolves improved their team when they were in the second division and when they went up, they were capable of staying there.
"What I would worry about Leeds is, if their ambition is to sign Ibrahimović and Cavani I would worry.”
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