Grayson frustrated after toils all come to nothing

The absence of new additions to the Elland Road squad and the sale of winger Max Gradel to French club Saint Etienne has angered some sections of the club’s supporters.

Grayson, however, says three players were lined up to sign but the deals collapsed in the countdown to Thursday night’s transfer deadline.

One of those was Southampton striker Jason Puncheon – who opted to join Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League.

Grayson also wanted Coventry City midfielder Sammy Clingan and a second loan spell for Aston Villa defender Eric Lichaj was postponed due to injury.

“It was my most frustrating day as a manager,” Grayson said. “As much as people look from the outside and say ‘we have not done anything’, I was working my socks off to achieve two, three, even four players coming in.

“The chairman (Ken Bates) has always said to me that whatever money we bring into this football club in terms of players going out, I will use – whether on wages or transfer fees. That all goes into the pot and I can use it how I want to do.

“Jason Puncheon had agreed to sign but changed his mind and went to QPR instead.

“We had agreed a deal with Southampton to bring the lad here to replace Max. Unfortunately, that fell through.

“It’s no secret I wanted to sign Eric Lichaj but he got injured in a reserve game and is out for two to three months with a hip injury. At one stage, around dinner-time, we had three deals more or less done and dusted. All the players needed to do was sign – but different circumstances didn’t make the deals happen.

“We had agreed another deal with a Premier League club, for an international defender, because another defender was going there and he was surplus to requirements. But that player went somewhere else so he decided he still had an opportunity to play in the Premier League.”

Although Gradel’s transfer fee was not disclosed, it is believed to be around £2m. In the summer, the sale of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to Leicester City bagged another £1m.

The only deal involving Leeds on deadline day saw Argentinian defender Fede Bessone returning to his former club Swansea City, now in the Premier League, after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.

Brighton and Hove Albion held talks with Billy Paynter but the striker opted to stay.

“Hopefully, everyone will understand the situation,” said Grayson. “I understand the fans – and that’s why I am coming out to justify what happened.”