Daniel Farke makes free-agent transfer admission after Leeds United injury update
Daniel Farke has admitted he isn’t a big fan of making free-agent signings after a new Ilia Gruev injury update emerged at Leeds United.
The Whites midfielder was substituted early on in the draw with Norwich City on Tuesday (1 October) and it is not yet clear how long the Bulgarian international could be stuck on the sidelines.
Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu has also been ruled out until the new year, leading Farke to admit it would be the Whites’ professional duty to consider available free agents if Gruev is also ruled out long-term.
As quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post (2 October) he said: “First of all, we wait a bit for the outcome with Ilia’s injury and how long he will be out.
“If it would be really a long-term injury I think it’s one of our professional duties to be aware and also to check who is perhaps available and what we could do.
“If I’m really honest, I’m not a big friend of signing players who are out of contract in the beginning of October, because it means more or less they are out of team training since May. That means they are out of team training since whatever, five months.
“And even if you bring them in, it lasts also a while until they are ready to go and fully fit and really could play first team football and then quite often the player who is right now injured for the next few weeks, he’s even back in perhaps and ready to go earlier than the players who are out for since five months.
“I think quite often it’s a bit like a panic buy or like to pretend to do something anyhow. I think it’s professional to check it, and sometimes out of coincidence or out of a special situation, there could be someone out who really suits the needs in this moment.”
Are Leeds United close to any free transfers after Elland Road injury update?
While Leeds United fans will be in agreement that there is an obvious lack of depth in the middle of the park at Elland Road currently, it would be naive to suggest that a free-agent signing would solve all of the Whites’ problems.
The Championship season is already eight games old and that means any players who are still without a club are eight matches and a whole pre-season behind the players already in Farke’s squad at this moment in time.
If Gruev is ruled out for an extended period of time, maybe then it would be worth Leeds taking a gamble on a proven free agent to just fill a void in the squad.
However, it may be more beneficial in the long run if someone like Charlie Crew is given that platform to impress in the first team instead.
Ultimately, Leeds will not benefit from rushing into this decision, particularly when the severity of Gruev’s injury is not yet known.
With the International break around the corner, they have plenty of time to assess their options.
In other Leeds United news, Ally McCoist has labelled a recent incident at Elland Road a “nightmare” live on talkSPORT
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