Leeds United seemed to have the majority of their transfer business tied up by the time deadline day rolled around, but that did not stop the rumour mill from kicking into full gear.
Having secured deals for Max Wober and Georginio Rutter, they were decisive and speedy in their completion of the additional acquisitions of Weston McKennie and Diogo Monteiro.
Despite this, and the recent knowledge which has suggested Jack Harrison had all but completed his move to Leicester City, it seemed like Victor Orta remained somewhat keen on adding another attacker to bolster the forward line.
One name which continued to be linked with a move in the other way to Harrison was Ayoze Perez, who seemed destined to exit the King Power Stadium.
It was journalist Ben Jacobs who coined the rumours, as he reported late into the night before deadline day that the Whites had “made an enquiry” regarding the Spaniard.
Despite this, the 29-year-old ultimately joined Real Betis on loan until the end of the season, quashing the links with Leeds late in the day.
Had the Whites secured this deal, it would likely have backfired considering just how unimpressive Perez has been since his £30m move from Newcastle United in 2019.
The £45k-per-week dynamo did enjoy a fine first season at Leicester, but in the subsequent two-and-a-half campaigns he has not managed to surpass the two-goal mark in the league. He was holding on to his eight goals and four assists notched in that debut campaign in the Midlands, but with that now being nearly three years ago, it is somewhat obsolete.
Even before he made that aforementioned move, he had not impressed Danny Mills, who admitted that he would have been “stunned” had Tottenham Hotspur signed him.
The former England full-back continued: “He has been at Newcastle for five years and had half a good season. He has hardly ripped up any trees.”
Since that transfer, the pundit has since been proven right once again.
Leeds completed a clinical January transfer window in which they achieved their business with minimal fuss. Signing Perez could have undone all that hard work by giving into the excitement of deadline day and adding a panic addition to their already bolstered squad.
It very much seems that Orta and co avoided a potential disaster with this failed deal.