Daniel James now in danger of Daniel Farke axe at Leeds United after David Brooks new emerges
It looks as though Leeds United are going to be active in the January transfer market and one player has already been earmarked.
Journalist Alex Crook told talkSPORT on Friday (29 December, 12:06pm) that the Whites are eyeing a loan move for Bournemouth ace David Brooks.
The 26-year-old has not played a great deal of football for the Cherries this season and Leeds are said to be looking to add him to their ranks to boost their hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League.
Crook said: “Yeah, two of the high-flyers in that division, Southampton and Leeds United,” said Crook. “I’m told that Leeds are planning quite a busy January in order to ensure that they can get back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.
“Brooks hasn’t played much football this season, certainly not as much as he would’ve expected to, so I think he’ll be looking to go out and try and get some game time under his belt because, of course, Wales have got these crucial playoff games for a place at the European Championships coming up.”
There have been reports of Leeds looking to add a No.10 to their ranks, but in Brooks they would have a player who is versatile in the attacking line.
And his arrival would probably have great repercussions for his Wales teammate Dan James, as it is hard to imagine Farke will drop Joel Piroe from his starting XI.
Brooks has played a lot of his career on the right side of a front three, which would mean James’ position in the starting XI could be in threat.
It would be a surprising decision from Farke to axe James given how well he has performed in a front four alongside Piroe, Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville this season.
James has seven goals and four assists to his name from 22 Championship outings this season, creating eight big chances and playing 1.6 passes per 90 minutes (SofaScore).
But it is hard to imagine that Leeds would look to bring in Brooks to sit him on the subs bench and the most natural solution would be to take James out of the XI – even if on the surface that would be a harsh decision.
In other Leeds United news, Darren Bent and Andy Goldstein shared a Farke sack verdict live on talkSPORT.