In the Elland Road boardroom on summer transfer deadline day, Leeds United chiefs felt they had enjoyed a successful window with just one final piece of the jigsaw missing.

Harry Wilson or indeed Facundo Buonanotte would have been that. Four months on, they have finally secured the services of the latter yet there is still a sense that the full picture is not as bright as it could have been.

This window was never going to be a dreamland utopia given the lack of spending room and those with rose-tinted glasses may have gone to bed last night seeing red after the absence of deadline day signings.

They can be forgiven in light of Leeds’ chase of Jorgen Strand Larsen going public. That pursuit would ultimately turn out to be a mirage - when Leeds looked like they might be getting closer to replenishing their striker stocks, the landmark would keep moving further back.

Opening bids were knocked back but Leeds for a long time were the only club to have submitted a formal bid. Hope...