MOT View: Leeds must be ready to react as Phil Hay makes January transfer prediction
The Athletic’s Phil Hay has warned Leeds United supporters to expect a quiet January transfer window next month, but the club must be ready to act if they need to.
Writing for The Athletic, Hay looked at why the club are traditionally quiet during the January window, with Marcelo Bielsa known to be a fan of avoiding any new year business.
Hay said: “Bielsa is not giving anyone the impression that he wants Leeds to be active either.”
He went on to add that Leeds United have learned from their dealings with RB Leipzig over the nightmare signing of Jean-Kevin Augustin, a saga that still rumbles on to this day.
Later on in the article, Hay added: “It will not be a surprise if he [Orta] has something of that nature up his sleeve. But season-changing deals? Expect limits to the drama, assuming there is any.”
Bielsa has already stated that he will not look to bring in another central defender next month, despite the club’s recent injury problems, but that has not stopped the rumour mill from churning.
On one hand, Hay does not rule out the possibility of Leeds signing a player in January, he assures fans that the club could act if they needed to.
It could well be a situation that the club looks to monitor over the coming days and weeks, given the worrying injury trend the Whites find themselves in.
Bielsa has never shied away from handing a youngster a spot in the first-team squad, but losing Liam Cooper recently, as well as Diego Llorente and Robin Koch will have been a major blow.
The Whites currently have five players sidelined through injury and as per Premier Injuries, four of which have no clear return date as things stand.
Diego Llorente appears to be nearing his return, which will come as a major boost to the Whites but should their injury situation worsen, it could force the club into the transfer market.
The likes of Sam Greenwood, Charlie Cresswell and Joe Gelhardt are all impressing in the U-23s this season, but it could be a huge ask for either of them to step into the first-team squad and the Premier League suddenly, should they need to.
With Leeds’ summer spending edging close to £100million, the club will be well aware that just a little bit of extra quality in the new year could see them over the line in their first season back in the Premier League.
In other Leeds United news, Paul Robinson gives verdict on surprise Bielsa action in Leeds v Man Utd