New Leeds signings ‘before end of transfer window’

The United manager, who was due to meet with another target of his yesterday, said he expected to bring “one or two in” and strike the deals needed to raise United’s prospects for the Championship run-in.

Doubt was cast over McDermott’s ability to attack the transfer market by the high-level conflict which saw club owner Gulf Finance House oppose a move to sign Barnes from Brighton for a £500,000 fee last week.

United lost out to Burnley, who landed Barnes on a three-and-a-half year contract, but McDermott believes other bids will come off and hinted that he was already making plans for signings at the end of this season.

McDermott said: “We’ll have opportunities to sign players which I’ll put to the board. Then we’ll see.

“We’ll get one or two in, I definitely think that. There might be a chance for us to do pre-contracts for the summer too. We’re building something here.”

McDermott has completed two signings this month, recruiting wingers Cameron Stewart and Jimmy Kebe.

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