Daniel Farke ‘won’t panic’ amid Willy Gnonto situation at Leeds United with eyes on ‘pivotal’ January transfer window – BBC pundit
Daniel Farke “won’t panic” amid the situation at Leeds United because he knew the January transfer window would be “pivotal” for him, according to Carlton Palmer.
The BBC pundit told Football League World (16 August) that with Jack Harrison gone to Everton and a “issue” to resolve over the future of Willy Gnonto the Whites boss has to focus on getting players out before turning his attentions to the winter window to “kick on”.
Winger Harrison, 26, joined the Toffees on a season-long loan on Sunday (13 August) while Gnonto has agreed personal terms on a move to Goodison Park [Fabrizio Romano, 11 August] but the Whites have rejected every bid for him.
Palmer said: “Jack Harrison has signed a season-long loan at Everton, not unexpected. He’s still expected to take around a month to recover from a minor hip injury.
“Farke will have known the players in his mind that will leave Leeds following relegation and Jack would have been one of those. They have the issue also with Gnonto to decide, now refusing to play, Leeds will have to bring the reinforcements in.
“Farke won’t panic, he did say on his arrival that the January transfer window will be the pivotal one for him, for now it’s just getting the players out on big money and the ones who want to leave, seeing where the club is at that point and be in contention and then kick on from January.”
Grit teeth
Farke’s best laid plans aren’t looking like they will be in place at the end of the current window as more key players head for an exit.
Even if Gnonto is kept hold of there is going to be a tricky job to do to bring him back into the side in a sustainable manner and gain any benefit from the Italian international being in the squad.
Hopes of a restocked Leeds United side powering through the Championship in search of an immediate return to the Premier League have certainly taken a battering in recent weeks.
So all Farke can reasonably do in the next couple of weeks is brace himself and assume he will lose his key men, then attempt to drag in a few reinforcements and do his best with what is left come 2 September.
It is a far cry from the most optimistic hopes but the second tier is a long slog so merely staying in contention until January may be enough.
If the German can make it that far in at least mid-table with what will probably be a cobbled together squad then the situation should have stabilised enough by that point to have a better time in the market and push on.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites scouted a striker at the weekend ahead of making a bid before the window closes.