Leeds scramble for desperate last gasp transfer before deadline
Leeds United are getting “desperate” as they face going through the winter transfer window with no new signings, according to the Daily Mirror.
The Mirror reported via their website on 3 February that having sanctioned four exits since the start of January, United are “scrambling” to make additions to Daniel Farke’s squad before the 11pm deadline.
Last-ditch moves for the likes of Southampton striker Cameron Archer, who is the Whites’ number one target, cannot be ruled out, with Pascal Struijk and Patrick Bamford’s injuries being a cause for concern.
Signing a new number nine is the Peacocks’ priority going into the final hours of the window, and despite Southampton bringing in Victor Udoh from Antwerp, they remain reluctant to let Archer leave for LS11 [Graham Smyth, 3 February].
Leeds United risk everything with Deadline Day gamble
Farke, like Marcelo Bielsa before him at Elland Road, is not a manager who will make multiple signings willy-nilly in order to pad out his squad, preferring a smaller core of players to utilise on a regular basis.
This has stood the German and his side in good stead thus far, sitting two points clear at the top of the Championship – and five clear of third place – following Saturday’s 7-0 thumping of Cardiff City.
However, with the Peacocks’ immediate rivals for promotion, namely Sheffield United, Burnley and Sunderland all making multiple signings in some big-money headline deals, Leeds risk missing the boat.
Failing to capitalise on their strong position in the table by not strengthening has come back to bite the Whites before, falling from ninth in Bielsa’s first Premier League season to scrape survival the year after.
A place in the Premier League is on the line this time, and while Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph proved a point against Cardiff, adding Archer to the mix could be the move which rubber-stamps promotion at Elland Road.
In other Leeds news, the Whites have made a “massive loss” on one player whose exit was confirmed in the last few days.
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