Leeds United ended the summer window with eight new signings, eight sales, five departing on loan and a whole heap of players departing on a free transfer.
But the work for the transfer team doesn’t stop there and attention will already be placed on the January window with gaps still large in the senior side, and some players likely to see January as a chance to go.
Below, are five players that could end up leaving Leeds in January:
Joe Gelhardt
It was a surprise not to see Gelhardt leave on loan in the latter stages of the summer. The striker, although versatile, finds himself as the club’s fourth-choice centre-forward currently under Daniel Farke.
Once described as “magic” by Alan Shearer and compared to Wayne Rooney, Gelhardt has struggled to replicate early successes and match initial hype. Game time will be tiny and a January loan is needed.
Max Wober
While the jury is still out among Leeds fans on whether Wober should be at the club, there is no denying the defender’s credentials. He is an Austria international who was first choice at Gladbach last season.
Wober is a left-footed centre-back and first cover for Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk. Galatasaray were linked with a move for Wober but nothing materialised. Clubs will have to meet Wober’s £12.5m price tag
Luca Thomas
Thomas has made a wonderful start to the season, albeit in the U21 side. Thomas has three goals in three games for Scott Gardner’s side, and won Leeds United’s U21 Player of the Month award for August.
But, he is in the final year of his contract and if he is to earn a new deal, he needs senior game time. With four strikers ahead of him in the Leeds pecking order, he needs a loan and reports say Thomas could go.
Junior Firpo
Firpo has been one of Leeds’ best players this season. Rewind a couple of years, or even 18 months and it would have been hard to imagine the left-back actually impressing in a Leeds shirt, constantly injured.
Now, the former Barcelona man is on fire. But the elephant in the room is that like Thomas, Firpo sees his contract expire next summer and non-English sides can approach on a pre-contract from January.
Charlie Crew
Crew is a real talent, the latest off the Thorp Arch conveyor belt. But the issue for Crew, who already has Wales caps and is part of the Wales squad, is yet to make his senior debut for Leeds under manager Farke.
Indeed, the signings of Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell have pushed him down the pecking order. Preference will be given to them given they are new additions and come January, a loan exit may suit the midfielder.
Leave a Reply