Daniel Farke issues Leeds United transfer verdict after last-minute draw with Cardiff City
Daniel Farke wants to strengthen his Leeds United squad in “all areas bar goalkeeper” after drawing at home to Cardiff City, Adam Pope reports.
The BBC Leeds journalist shared the Whites boss’ transfer verdict via Twitter following the first game of the season against Cardiff City on Sunday (6 August), as he wants to focus on more additions rather than more players leaving while “staying financially viable”.
Liam Cooper and Crysencio Summerville scored the goals to rescue a point from 2-0 down at Elland Road, as Illan Meslier started in goal over new signing Karl Darlow, and Farke apparently believes that is the only position he is set with.
Farke’s started Ethan Ampadu in midfield and brought on Sam Byram at half time as all three of his signings so far saw action, but amid extensive departures at the back the defence looked shaky once again.
Cooper was stretchered off after scoring and is being assessed for an ankle injury so centre-back appears to be a priority before the window closes.
Needed
Leeds United need answers in defence after kicking off their Championship campaign in a worryingly similar fashion to the way they spent the last doomed Premier League season.
It appears that conceding two sloppy goals to a Cardiff side that only narrowly avoided dropping into League One last season, coupled with another injury to Cooper, has seen action taken in that regard already.
Farke’s appointment the day before preseason training started, along with the delayed nature of the 49ers takeover being confirmed, and a lack of incoming transfer fees from a long list of loan exits, have all combined to leave the German playing catch up in terms of signings.
An extensive list of injuries, which already had the likes of Tyler Adams, Jack Harrison and Cody Drameh unavailable, grew with the awfully-timed crisis up front to rule out Patrick Bamford, Mateo Joseph and Georginio Rutter.
When everyone is fit, and assuming more don’t depart in the final weeks of the window, the options will be much-improved, but a striker, another central midfielder, a centre-back and a left-back look to be the obvious priorities in the time remaining.
However, unless Farke knows someone is on the way out, he appears to have an embarrassment of riches in terms of attacking midfielders and wide forwards.
Harrison and Rutter to come back and join Summerville, Willy Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra, who all thrived against Cardiff, with Dan James and Ian Poveda also in the mix.
The manager is sure to be busy in the final weeks of the window and the squad could yet look very different in a month’s time.
In other Leeds United news, a Sky Sports pundit was stunned by what an “incredible” Whites player did on Sunday.