Leeds United sources share brand new January transfer update at Elland Road
Leeds United sources have pointed out three spare loan spots in the squad in an update on the January transfer window, according to Graham Smyth.
Daniel Farke’s most recent action for the Whites was to return loanee Djed Spence to Tottenham Hotspur six months earlier than expected, which has freed up another space in his squad.
Leeds already have Jaidon Anthony from Bournemouth and Joe Rodon from Tottenham on loan at Elland Road, leaving space for three more loanees if Farke decides those deals to be necessary this month.
“At no stage have Leeds expected to do wholesale business in January but club sources have pointed to the available loan spots when discussing possible strengthening,” Smyth wrote for the Yorkshire Evening Post on Tuesday (9 January).
“Now that Spence has returned to Spurs, Leeds have three spare slots to bring players in on loan.”
Transfer targets
Farke and Leeds fans alike have voiced the need for a brand-new full-back, with Spence’s services no longer available at Elland Road.
With Luke Ayling linked with a move to Middlesborough, as per Sky Sports, Jamie Shackleton and Sam Byram’s extended spells on the sidelines, and Junior Firpo’s inconsistency, Archie Gray has been deputising at full-back.
Loan deals this January could help Farke be able to use his squad to the best of their ability, rather than playing a superb midfielder out of position or a right-back on the opposite flank.
The risk with loan players, however, is the ease with which clubs can become overdependent on them, leaving the club high-and-dry once their contracts run out. This is the case with Rodon unless Leeds can come to an agreement with Spurs for a suitable price.
It will be interesting to see how the Leeds squad looks once the January transfer window closes And if the club do decide to fill the vacant loan spots, who with?
In other Leeds United news, an Elland Road exit has been confirmed on Instagram.