Daniel Farke shares Leeds United transfer update to Phil Hay after win v Cardiff
Daniel Farke has told Phil Hay that there is “nothing to add” on any potential signings for Leeds United during the January transfer window so far.
The Whites completed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Cardiff City on Saturday 13 January, with Junior Firpo, Ethan Amapdu, Joe Rodon and Archie Gray making up the back four.
However, after Firpo was replaced by Sam Byram with minutes left to play, with Farke admitting talks will continue on the way home with one or two positions potentially being strengthened.
“Nothing to add on transfers,” Hay wrote via Twitter on Saturday (13 January). Transcribing Farke’s post-match press conference, Farke said: “We’ll talk on the way back but I’ve not heard anything.
“I don’t expect anything will happen in the next 24 hours or whatever. Everyone can see that it would be beneficial in one to two positions to stay ambitious.”
Much-needed signings
If Leeds are to continue their quest for Premier League promotion this season, they will require additions before the transfer window closes. One natural centre-back on the pitch against Cardiff, despite Ampadu’s ability to play well there, is slightly worrying.
With Pascal Struijk injured for the second time this season, and Liam Cooper unavailable, Rodon and Amapdu deputised as the centre-back pairing. And although it paid off against strugglers Cardiff, it is not a long-term solution.
Ampadu is needed in midfield alongside Glen Kamara, with Ilia Gruev slightly out of his depth right now. The Welshman’s impact on the game is limited when playing in defence.
And Firpo’s potential injury is another worry, reported by Graham Smyth, as his career at Elland Road continues to be plagued by injury. Having missed several games to a knee injury already this season, the former Barcelona player may be set for another spell on the sidelines.
Despite stating that a quiet January would be most likely at Elland Road, it is mostly believed that Leeds will sign a couple of players before the end of the month, especially with such a tough second half of the season to come.
In other Leeds United news, an international player linked with a move to Elland Road is unhappy at his current club and could be on his way out in the January transfer window.