Leeds United are already planning their work ahead of the January transfer window with Daniel Farke’s side particularly light due to injuries and suspensions.
Long-term knee injuries to Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev and Max Wober forced Daniel Farke to act early and bring in free agent Josuha Guilavogui. Isaac Schmidt likened Guilavogui to Zinedine Zidane on Saturday.
Ampadu is ahead of schedule in making a return but the chances are, he will still not be seen until late December. The injuries and recent suspensions have highlighted just how light Leeds are in some areas.
Junior Firpo’s three-game ban sees Leeds left to rely on injury-prone Sam Byram and untested newbie Schmidt. The latter did lay on an assist for Joel Piroe’s goal on Saturday, but a left-back could be required.
Leeds want to sign £6m Sunderland defender in January
Firpo’s future is in doubt, with the Dominican Republic star out of contract at the end of the season. The chances are, his future at Elland Road will depend on whether The Whites are promoted, or fail to go up.
Leeds may need to replace Firpo then, with Byram also out of contract. The Sunday Mirror (p69, 10/11) say that Leeds are interested in signing Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin, but that he is not for sale.
While he might not be available in the winter window, Leeds are keeping tabs. A player with plenty of Championship experience but still young at 22, signing Cirkin would certainly hamper a promotion rival.
What Jose Mourinho said about Dennis Cirkin at Tottenham
Cirkin joined Sunderland in 2021 and helped them get promoted to the second tier under Tony Mowbray, forming a partnership with Jack Clarke down the left. He has gone on to shine in the Championship.
On Saturday, he took his tally to 10 goals and assists in 51 Championship games with the second of two goals in a 2-2 draw with Coventry. A player that’s defensively solid, excellent in attack, and good in the air.
So much so, that prior to his move to Sunderland, Cirkin had caught the eye of then-Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho. Speaking to Football London in 2019, Mourinho said he had watched Cirkin for the U19’s.
“OK, he’s 17, but he’s a kid with a lot of quality, and I look forward to bringing him to train with us, and to help his development,” he said. Clearly, Cirkin is making good on that potential now, and Leeds are keen.
But Leeds are unlikely to be alone in pursuit of Cirkin. Tottenham had been linked with re-signing him, and had a £6m buyback clause until the most-recent window when it expired, according to The Echo.
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