It is less than a couple of months until the transfer window reopens and last season, Daniel Farke and Leeds United missed a big opportunity to strengthen their push for promotion.
After a whole month of being linked with new players in January 2024, the club only managed to bring in one new face in the form of Wales defender Connor Roberts. He made an impression, but not a big one.
Apart from his goal against Leicester in the 3-1 comeback win at Elland Road, Roberts did very little for Leeds. Farke should have looked to add creativity in midfield, another option in defence and in attack.
But instead, Leeds stuck with they had and were left to regret it when stood wondering what if on the Wembley turf. This time around, Farke and Leeds need to show that they have learnt from their lesson.
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Graham Smyth shares what he thinks Leeds will do in January
Before the deadline in the summer, Farke made it clear that he felt Leeds needed a no.10. But they failed to get one in the last stages of the window, bringing in Ao Tanaka and Isaac Schmidt on the final day.
Brenden Aaronson has done a job, splitting opinion. Four goals in 16 games and an assist, often giving the ball away. Aaronson lost 14 duels on Saturday, the most since Georginio Rutter on the opening day.
Leeds could do with a no.10 and the YEP’s Graham Smyth told The Square Ball: “I’ve always thought that in January they’ll try and do a signing that helps in attacking midfield, like a 10 to put them over the top.
“If they have a flair player to bring in on loan from a Premier League club, maybe he’s not getting many minutes, maybe he can come in and add six or seven assists and a few goals, Leeds will be absolutely fine.
“That’s what they were missing at Millwall. A bit of unpredictability. Someone like Georginio Rutter, something Millwall weren’t expecting,” Smyth continued. “Because what else is this team lacking?”
Where else could Leeds look to recruit in the January window
Competition or even cover for Aaronson would make sense. The £25m man is doing well to a degree, but Jon Newsome says Aaronson is just keeping his head above water in a league he should be lighting up.
Josuha Guilavogui’s arrival has provided Leeds with some much-needed depth not only in midfield, but also at centre-back. Goalkeeper, full-backs, wingers and strikers all boast depth in Farke’s Leeds squad.
But perhaps up top is where Leeds could strengthen. Joel Piroe is impressing with six goals, but even he is struggling to start while Mateo Joseph does the other side of the role well, without scoring the goals.
If a striker becomes available that can do both, then maybe Leeds will take a look. Patrick Bamford can do that, but only when he is fit and firing and over the last four years, that has been far too rare with him.
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