Leeds United transfer update as January window nears deadline, Daniel Farke may be open to criticism at Elland Road – Phil Hay
Leeds United are still not on the brink of signing any January reinforcements despite the transfer window being just a few days from closing, according to Phil Hay.
The Athletic journalist told the Square Ball Podcast released on Monday morning (29 January) that there was “no sign of anything developing rapidly” and the squad was currently in line to end the winter window weaker than it started, after the departures of Djed Spence and Luke Ayling.
Daniel Farke has made clear that “financially it isn’t too easy” to sign players this month, although he would like to, but Hay believes the “bigger issue” is convincing potential new arrivals that they will get a game if they do come in.
Hay said (20m 40s): “He would like players in certain positions where there clearly isn’t quite enough depth, but he isn’t making much secret of the fact that financially it isn’t too easy, and also I think the bigger issue is persuading players that they’re going to get any meaningful game time here.
“They could conceivably because say for instance [Pascal] Struijk is out for longer than Farke would like him to be, or if there’s an injury in a certain position, then absolutely you could get into the team. But I think the odds, and common sense, probably tells quite a few players looking in from the outside that the team’s fairly set…
“So it hasn’t been easy to this point, and certainly today there’s no sign of anything developing rapidly. As we say, the things that have happened so far are basically contract extensions, that’s where the work on the squad has happened, with the exception of the outgoings of Ayling and Spence.
“There would be no doubt if the window closed as the squad is at the moment that it would be going out of it weaker than they came in, which is not ideal and is not great. In the grand scheme that might not matter, but I think what it does is it leaves you open to criticism if there is a problem or if things go wrong, or if you find yourself short in an area that you could have covered.”
Uneasy
In terms of areas that might be left short there will be a giant arrow pointing to the full-back positions in the mind of most Leeds United fans.
When everyone is fit then the Whites starting XI has proven they can beat anyone in the Championship, and while there are question marks over the form of some back-up options there looks to be solid alternatives in attack, midfield, central defence now that Charlie Cresswell is back in the picture, and in goal.
But while Archie Gary has been excellent all season and continues to function as a capable right-back despite being a central midfielder, it would be another matter if he was knocked out or required in his favoured position.
Jamie Shackleton is by no means a disastrous option as cover but against the top sides in the promotion battle, or in a play-off run at the end of the season, it would potentially be a risk to only have him there, also playing out of his natural spot.
In theory, with Junior Firpo suddenly in the best form of his Elland Road career and Sam Byram primarily a right-back, they could start on either side of the back line, but there are ongoing injury concerns around both so it would seem fanciful to rely on their availability.
Farke’s decisions on Spence and Ayling may have been valid in isolation, but since it is proving very difficult to find cover now that they’ve gone the manager might be wondering if it was the right move to let both go.
The Whites made an approach for Sint-Truiden’s Daiki Hashioka but were put off by an injury he is carrying, and have now lost out to Luton Town.
So there is activity going on behind the scenes but as yet no success, and if that doesn’t change fast Farke will have to move forward with what he’s got and hope for the best on the injury front.
In other Leeds United news, a manager has spoken out on a move for an “unplayable” ace the Whites want this month, as he was tipped to be a “great signing” at Elland Road.
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