New-look Leeds United recruitment team must hit ground running after Graham Smyth January verdict
The new recruitment structure at Leeds United will be under immediate pressure to get the January transfer window right.
Speaking on The Square Ball Podcast (11 November), Smyth said that he sees attacking midfield as the only position in which the Whites need to strengthen in the January transfer window.
Both Gretar Steinsson and Jordan Miles are leaving their roles as technical director [Nancy Froston, 8 November] and head of recruitment respectively [TEAMtalk, 9 November], with Nick Hammond and Adam Underwood given more prominent roles.
Smyth said: “I think it’s one to watch in January, just to see what kind of a sense we get about what Farke wants, and what he gets.
“I’ve always thought in January they’ll try and do a signing that helps in attacking midfield, like a 10, just to put them over the top.
“If you have a flair player that you can bring in, and he can come in and add six, seven assists and a few goals, then this team’s going to be absolutely fine.
“If you can go and get that kind of player in January, then what is this team (still) lacking?”
January transfer window could be crucial for Leeds United
The Championship promotion race is already taking shape this season, with the Whites well in the mix despite another disruptive summer following their defeat in last term’s play-off final at Wembley.
Smyth identifying the number 10 role as the one area in which United remain light on numbers is a damning one for the club, who lost Georginio Rutter to Brighton two matches into the new campaign.
Rutter’s exit clause being triggered by Brighton – despite him being firmly in Daniel Farke’s plans – left Leeds without a true playmaking presence up front, although Brenden Aaronson has been impressive.
Adding further competition for Aaronson in attacking midfield could help the Peacocks over the line when it comes to securing automatic promotion, having failed to replace Rutter in the summer window.
Farke may be hesitant to disrupt a winning team – particularly given last January sparked a nine-game winning run – but one more signing could prove to be the final piece in their Premier League jigsaw.
In other Leeds news, an international manager discussed his admiration for one United star who is on the verge of a milestone.
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