Sky Sports host makes £45m Leeds United transfer claim ahead of January, details Marcelo Bielsa stance Daniel Farke should follow
David Prutton believes Leeds United do not need to go and look for reinforcements in the January transfer window following Tuesday’s defeat at Sunderland.
The Sky Sports host, writing in his Yorkshire Evening Post column (16 December) shares that Daniel Farke should follow Marcelo Bielsa’s example and not instigate a potential “battle with the board” over the need for January additions when he already has £45m worth of talent to choose from.
Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham scored the winner on Tuesday (12 December) as they ended Leeds United’s seven-game unbeaten run, executing a game plan to neutralise the Whites’ attacking threat.
Prutton believes if the Whites can find solutions in January then it’s a bonus but Farke already possesses “one of the best teams” in the Championship.
He wrote: “If I’m being asked if the midweek defeat highlights the need for a no 10 or changes or additions in January then not really, no. From a goalscoring point of view, Leeds know exactly what they are doing and from a creation point of view, they know exactly what they are doing. Yes, they’ve been slightly profligate at times.
“At the start of the season, everyone is trying to get used to each other and get up to the speed of the championship and Leeds had a new boss to get used to. Leeds had to get used to all of these things/ But there is so much that is right about them and they have already had money spent on them.
There has been around £45m spent on the front two of (Georginio) Rutter and (Joel) Piroe. We have spoken about this before under Marcelo Bielsa and he saying he doesn’t want anything in January or not really kind of going to battle with the board. If the money is there and the right player is there then great.
“But I wouldn’t try and force the issue by any stretch because when the team is fit and firing and plays well, it’s one of the best in the Championship. You just get the odd aberration.”
No need
Indeed, Leeds United do possess one of the best teams in the Championship right now and it has shown through their tremendous form in recent weeks, although Tuesday’s defeat in Wearside should have pointed out a number of issues for Farke.
However, the loss to Sunderland certainly did not show they need to go out and reinforce the squad in desperation as the issue they had was simply trying to break down a defence and team who did their job brilliantly.
Looking at Farke’s attacking options on paper in the likes of Piroe, Crycensio Summerville and Rutter, it is certainly one the best in the division if not the best and on any other day, would have possessed the quality to breach Sunderland’s dogged defence.
Prutton is right, Leeds United do not need to go and search for reinforcements but that certainly won’t stop the board from trying to identify targets for the long stretch.
If the club can find players who can come in and make an instant impact then great, but there’s also a need to look at the players already on their books on loan, with a couple of them already reported to be on their way back to Elland Road (TEAMtalk, 15 December) after some early-season struggles.
With that in mind, there really is no use for reinforcements. Leeds United should instead focus on plotting their route back to the Premier League with the quality they already possess and those right under their nose out on loan.
In other Leeds United news, Sky Sports host drops his prediction for Saturday’s crucial clash against Coventry with a “disastrous” verdict shared.