Leeds United tipped to abandon transfer ambition as Daniel Farke hailed for ‘wonderful’ Sam Byram addition
Leeds United “can be very happy they got” Sam Byram and no longer need to look to the free agent market for a new left-back, according to Dean Jones.
The former Eurosport journalist told GIVEMESPORT that the “wonderful” start that the returning full-back has made was a “testament” to Daniel Farke’s faith in his former Norwich charge, and had largely addressed the need for another option on the left of the back line.
The Whites had gone without bringing in a specialist left-back during the transfer window after loan targets proved out of reach, and were said to be looking to sign another free agent, but appear to no longer need to.
Jones said: “Byram has made a wonderful start really and it’s testament to Farke for giving him this opportunity. Leeds put faith in him when Farke recommended.
“They gave him a contract. So in turn, that confidence between the manager and the club will have been enhanced thanks to the showings that Byram has been turning in.
“I think he’s shown they don’t actually need to be dipping into the free agent market for the time being and I think they can be very happy with what they got in him.”
Fitness permitting
Byram has made the left-back spot his own so far, even if he didn’t cover himself in glory during the 3-1 defeat at Southampton at the weekend, which is somewhat of a surprise when he was seen as a right-back on arrival.
If he can keep up that form and remain fit then Leeds United will no doubt be satisfied to stick with what they’ve got, given they didn’t make a huge effort to bring in a specialist during the transfer window.
It is still a risk to assume he will be available for the rest of the season though since he has been unable to play more than half a campaign for a number of seasons due to miserable injury luck.
Junior Firpo’s fitness record is similarly wretched so if both were ruled out at once at a key point then Farke would be relying on Jamie Shackleton.
The former Millwall loanee has also done admirably on the whole when called upon so far, but in a top of the table clash that may help determine promotion spots it wouldn’t be ideal to have to fall back on a midfielder pressed into emergency defensive duty.
That said, unless the club are willing to do what they did at striker and make a decisive move to address the need, as with Joel Piroe, a budget signing might not be an obvious upgrade.
Byram has been a very valuable addition so far, but a lot looks like it is going to hinge on his ability to stay fit.
In other Leeds United news, a senior man is set to be axed by Farke after the failure at St. Mary’s and could struggle to get a look in again.