Leeds United’s squad has already been stretched to its limits this season and so the January transfer window could prove very useful.
When everyone is available, there isn’t a side in the Championship with a stronger starting XI and bench than Leeds, but that is a luxury that hasn’t happened too often this season.
Max Wober is yet to play a single minute of league football since returning to Leeds in the summer. While Pascal Struijk’s form is a huge part of the reason behind that, a lot of it is also down to injury.
Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev are also both on the sidelines at the moment due to long-term knee injuries, while Largie Ramazani is in week one of his recovery from ankle ligament damage.
Dan James, Manor Solomon and Patrick Bamford have all missed numerous matches too, and if Leeds’ luck with injuries doesn’t improve, it would certainly be wise to bring in a couple of reinforcements.
Leeds could sell one of Patrick Bamford or Joel Piroe
Despite Bamford’s injury issues earlier in the season, striker is one of the only positions Leeds haven’t really been too badly affected by.
That said, it is clear Daniel Farke still does not know who his best option is, with Mateo Joseph starting the opening eight league matches, and Piroe the last four.
In terms of all round game, Joseph is certainly the best option, but he has been wasteful in front of goal. Piroe is the more clinical of the two, but goes missing for large periods of matches when in from the start.
With that in mind, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has exclusively told LeedsUnited.News that striker could be a position Leeds look to strengthen in January to boost their promotion push.
However, that is only likely to happen if one of Bamford or Piroe moves on, something which Bailey says Leeds could be open to.
He said: “It wouldn’t surprise me if Bamford moved on. Even if they got a good offer for Piroe, if they could sell one, get one in, because obviously Piroe’s doing ok, but he won’t be happy with the minutes he’s getting.
“But obviously Mateo Joseph’s doing really well. I think they’re happy with those three up front and the options they’ve got, but if there is the opportunity to move Bamford or Piroe on and it gave them the chance to bring someone else in, they may do that. They haven’t got a large enough squad to really sell.”
Bamford ‘banging’ on Farke’s door
While Piroe can have a role in the squad that extends beyond starting, Bamford has fallen significantly down the pecking order this season.
Bamford has played just 47 minutes of league football so far and so it wouldn’t be a surprise if both Leeds and the player were open to a January exit.
Pundit Jon Newsome believes Bamford will be ‘banging’ on Daniel Farke’s door soon if he doesn’t get a proper chance in the team.
He said: “I don’t know, I think at some point he will definitely be banging on the gaffer’s door asking, ‘when does he get his opportunity?’”
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