Leeds United director of football Victor Orta has opened up on how much the coronavirus pandemic will hinder the ability to sign players during the summer transfer window.
The Whites won the Championship to guarantee their return to the Premier League after 16 years but the club know recruitment is needed to compete in the top tier.
Marcelo Bielsa's men are keen to bring back former loanee Ben White, while they have been linked with the likes of James Milner, William Carvalho, James McCarthy, Said Benrahma, Jonathan David and more.
But Orta has explained that the lack of clarity over when football fans will be allowed back in stadiums could have a significant impact on transfer dealings in the next several weeks.
Orta told Latercera: "We have been on the market for a week and no trend is being seen. It will have to be evaluated later. Right now it is an absolute unknown. It is not known how many people are going to return to the stadiums and when, and that is what the budgets are waiting for. I see immobility because of that. All standing."
The Premier League transfer window is open until Monday, October 5 so clubs have plenty of time to get deals across the line even when the league season begins on September 12.
As for when football fans could return to stadiums, Prime Minister Boris Johnson last month spoke about October as a potential return month for supporters in a limited capacity, but this is subject to change depending on the coronavirus infection rate in England.
