Leeds United’s new £36milllion signing will need time to adapt the Premier League, according to Lee Sharpe.
Leeds smashed their transfer record to bring in Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim in January. The forward cost a cool £36 million from the Bundesliga side and penned a five-and-a-half year deal in Yorkshire.
Sharpe, who was Leeds’ joint record signing in 1996 when they paid £4.5m for his services from Manchester United, has warned it could be hard for Rutter to find his groove mid-season. He told 888sport: “Do you put Rutter in and hope that he hits the ground running.
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“There’s a sense of excitement and freedom because he doesn’t really come with the pressure of relegation on his shoulders. He can just come in and flow. Or does he need time to adjust to a new country, the language, the housing situation, and all the rest of it?
“It’s head or tails how it goes and you hope for Leeds, for the fans and the club, that he comes in and starts scoring goals and gets them up the table. Then again, you can’t expect too much of him and you have to give him time to adjust to the lifestyle and the league.”
But irrespective of how well Rutter does at Elland Road, Leeds will survive Premier League relegation this season, Sharpe thinks.
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The Elland Road outfit narrowly escaped the drop last season, finishing 17th after drafting in Jesse Marsch following the departure of Marcelo Bielsa. Results this season have been erratic.
Leeds eased past League One side Accrington Stanley last weekend with a 3-1 win in the FA Cup. However, Marsch’s men are now without a win in their last five Premier League games and are once again looking over their shoulder.
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“The league generally doesn’t lie and they’re obviously not getting the results they’re looking for. I’ve watched them a few times this season and they look a really good side.
“They pass the ball around well, they create chances, and as always, they are high energy with a good work-rate. Like any team stuck down the bottom it comes down to composure and being more ruthless in the final third. That can make or break a game.
“Other than that, they’re a very comfortable Premier League team, but they have to start putting the ball in the back of the net.” The Whites will have the chance to improve their survival chances against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
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