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Kieran King

Leeds United's recent big-money departures and how they've got on since leaving Elland Road

Five years on since Andrea Radrizzani joined Leeds United to become their new chairman, the club have enjoyed plenty of success on and off the pitch. The Whites have won promotion back to the Premier League and managed to finish in ninth last season - cementing themselves as an established top-flight outfit.

Leeds have gone through four managers during the Italian's tenure, before Jesse Marsch's joined back in February. It all started with Garry Monk, who was appointed by Massimo Cellino, but resigned at the end of the 2016/17 season, shortly after Radrizzani's full takeover was completed. This was all before Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom both lasted fewer than 50 games between them during the following campaign.

However, everything would change at the Whites when Marcelo Bielsa came through the door in summer 2018. The Argentine completely altered the feeling around the club and brought back the good times, guiding Leeds to the play-off semi-final in his first season, before winning the Championship title.

READ MORE: Best and worse case scenarios for Leeds United as they sit out Easter weekend fixtures

Although Bielsa's tenure ended earlier this season, he will be fondly remembered for the work he has done at the club. During their time in the Championship Leeds had to regularly sell key assets in order to create funds. Promotion has meant that the club are no longer reliant on selling players, with no significant player sales since the summer of 2019.

But how have the last few big-money departures got on since leaving Elland Road? Here is a look at how the high-profile sales from the Radrizzani era have fared after their moves.

Jack Clarke

A promising youngster, Jack Clarke was tipped to become one of England next brightest prospects when he broke through into Leeds' first-team back in 2018. He made a total of 22 appearances for Bielsa's side, before earning a £10million move away from the Whites as he joined Tottenham Hotspur.

Clarke returned to the Whites immediately on a season-long loan but featured just three times during their promotion-winning season. Since then, Clarke has played just three times for Spurs, before being sent out on loan to Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City and now Sunderland. He has played six games following his switch to the Stadium of Light in January.

Pontus Jansson

A no-nonsense defender, Jansson became a real cult hero during his three-year spell at Elland Road. But the Swedish centre-back departed the Whites at the end of the 2018/19 season after making over 100 appearances, joining Thomas Frank's Brentford.

He has since enjoyed plenty of success at the Bees, helping them to the Championship play-off final in his first season, before they went one better last year, finishing second in the second-tier. Jansson has been a regular in the Brentford side this term, playing in all but two of their top-flight games as they eye a mid-table finish.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell

The Northern Ireland international came through the ranks at the Whites before cementing himself as Leeds' no.1 goalkeeper during Bielsa's time at the club. However, he lost his place to Kiko Casilla towards the back end of the 18/19 campaign, leaving his long-term future in doubt.

Subsequently, Peacock-Farrell decided to move on in the summer with Burnley signing him on a four-year contract with an option of a further year. However, he has made just eight appearances for the Clarets, before making the season-long loan switch to Sheffield Wednesday last summer. The 25-year-old has played in every League One game for the Owls this season.

Samu Saiz

Having came through the famous Real Madrid academy, Saiz spent time at the likes of Getafe and Atletico Madrid before his move to Leeds in 2017. The midfielder quickly established himself as a fans' favourite at the Whites, scoring a hat-trick on his debut against Port Vale in the League Cup.

After ending the season with nine goals and seven assists, Saiz was nominated as one of four players for Leeds' Player of the Year award. However, the midfielder struggled for form under Bielsa and moved back to Spain with Girona in June 2019. Saiz is still plying his trade at the La Liga 2 side, scoring three times in 29 games so far this term.

Ronaldo Vieira

Vieira came through the ranks at Leeds before making his first-team debut on the opening day of the 2016/17 campaign - a 3-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers. The midfielder would go on to make 38 appearances during Monk's time at the club and was also an important part of Christiansen's stint.

But the former England under-21 international was sold for a fee in the region of £7million as he joined Serie A side Sampdoria. He played 54 games over the course of two and a half seasons before joining Hellas Verona for the second half of the campaign.

Kemar Roofe

The Walsall-born forward joined Leeds in 2016 with high expectations after impressing for Oxford United. However, Roofe scored just three times in 49 games during his first season at the club. He improved during his final two years at the Whites, netting a further 30 goals in 74 appearances, helping Leeds to the play-offs.

With Patrick Bamford beginning to cement his place in the Leeds side, Roofe decided to move on in 2019 and signed for Vincent Kompany's Anderlecht in deal worth around £7 million. In his opening seven games in the Belgian league, Roofe scored five times, including an 81st-minute winner at Zulte Waregem.

Roofe is now at Rangers and guided the Glasgow club to the Scottish Premiership title last term, having scored 18 times in just 36 games. This season, Roofe has found the net on 15 occasions in all competitions.

Chris Wood

A prolific goalscorer, Wood joined Leeds in 2015 after impressing for Leicester City in the Championship. The New Zealand international proved to be a major success at the Whites, netting 27 times during his second season at the club - the sixth highest figure in a single second tier campaign.

However, Wood decided to leave the Whites at the end of the 2016/17 season, making the move to Premier League newcomers Burnley. He proved to be a vital figure for Sean Dyche's side as they stayed in the division for five successive campaigns, before he chose to join Newcastle United in January. He has netted two goals in 10 games for the Magpies so far.

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