Leeds United: Phil Hay moots arrival of new No 10 at Elland Road in January transfer window
Phil Hay has suggested that Leeds United could target a “number 10” during the January transfer window to battle where Daniel Farke’s depth is “slimmest”.
While Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter are the preferred attacking partnership under Farke, one up front and the other in behind in the number 10 position, it is unclear who else in the squad is capable of deputising in the latter, if anyone at all.
Although the Whites have been tipped for a quiet winter period in the market, Hay has argued that a new attacking midfielder could be on the manager’s mind as Leeds push for promotion back to the Premier League.
“Left-back aside, No 10 would appear to be the position where Farke’s choice is slimmest,” The Athletic’s journalist wrote on Thursday (21 December).
“If he is not going with the Rutter-Piroe combination up front, it is not clear who is best suited to that role — Farke has players who could have a go, but he does not have many obvious specialists.”
Attacking options
With last season’s main attacking threat from midfield, Brenden Aaronson, currently on loan with Union Berlin, Farke’s choice of who takes up the number 10 role was made for him before the season even began.
With Piroe dominating the position, linking up well with Frenchman Rutter, it is unlikely Farke will deploy a different partnership this season unless forced to by injuries or a drop in form.
However, with such a busy schedule throughout the campaign, tiredness or injury would not be a surprise and the January transfer window could offer a short-term solution while his other fixes are on loan this season.
Farke has already revealed his intentions of bringing in a new full-back to cover for Junior Firpo and Sam Byram, but it may be that the funds need to be split and allocated elsewhere with only two players capable of deputising in Piroe’s position – himself.
The striker role is less of a concern, with Patrick Bamford back fit again and Joe Gelhardt seemingly itching to get onto the pitch and prove himself. But as the window draws closer, Farke will need to make up his mind about the number 10 position.
In other Leeds United news, media in Italy have slammed Rasmus Kristensen labelling him Roma’s worst-ever signing