The journalist for The Athletic explained that although Spence and Ayling would not have been on big-money deals, their departure would have allowed the club to complete the Robers deal before the deadline of 11 p.m.

Given his length of service at Elland Road, Ayling in particular would have been paid well, and Leeds’ budget would have taken a hit from Spence’s Tottenham salary.

“Jenkins and Hjelde, Hjelde wouldn’t have been on tiny money, but Hjelde and Jenkins are not going to clear the way for you to sign somebody from the Premier League,” Hay said in an interview with The Square Ball podcast on February 1. While Spence was different, Ayling, who has been at Leeds for some time, will also likely be paid generously.

“It does obviously free up some [wages], which is why there is some flexibility and room on the wage bill if they were to do Connor Roberts today.”

Cutting the pay budget and allowing players to leave the club this month have proven crucial, especially after their Premier League relegation, in order to make room for incoming transactions, with Robers’s potential high-value acquisition being one of them.

Even Premier League loan agreements are costly; the majority of top-tier teams require that a portion of their players’ salaries be paid while they are on loan in order to defray their own pay expenditures.

Although such exits initially left Leeds short, especially at right-back, they have been essential for rejuvenating the team in advance of Daniel Farke’s late drive for promotion.