Leeds United January transfer claim made as priority player shared
Leeds United may need to add reinforcements in January to “get over the line” in the promotion race, according to Brian Deane.
Speaking to Football League World (17 October), the ex-United striker said that while his former side have plenty of dynamism and technicality in their squad, more may be needed to win the Championship.
The Whites face fellow contenders Sheffield United on Friday (18 October) at Elland Road, and Deane said that compared to the blades, Daniel Farke’s side currently lack the same level of physicality – with that a priority player to target.
Sky Sports pundit Deane said: “You need that dynamism if you’re going to do something in this division, but also have some very good technical players.
“I think it’s just if they can get the balance right – I’d love to see a little more physicality in there.
“I wonder, come January, if they’re going to need somebody to do that, with the lesson from last year of looking at what they need come the end of the season – what they need to get over the line and not look too predictable.”
Leeds United January transfers could be key in promotion race
Adding reinforcements to Farke’s ranks has been a popular topic of late, given the sheer number of injuries which have left significant holes in the current squad outside of a transfer window.
Injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev have highlighted this lack of depth, with at least one free agent training at Thorp Arch over the international break and the likes of Francis Coquelin mooted [The Sun, 17 October].
The 49ers Enterprises group were criticised at the end of the summer window for failing to replace the departed Georginio Rutter, and this is one of the areas which could come back to bite them in May.
January is therefore shaping up to be a pivotal month in the promotion race both on and off the pitch at Elland Road, with additions needed to coincide with the expected return dates of Gruev and Ampadu.
Farke and the 49ers cannot afford to rest on their laurels as the new year approaches, and a successful January window could prove to be the difference when it comes to making their Premier League return.
In other Leeds news, one United academy starlet can prove himself at senior level after completing a fifth-tier loan switch.
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