Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has laid out the club’s latest position on the January transfer window as the Whites prepare for a crucial Premier League fixture.
Daniel Farke was left short in the summer transfer window, as a failed move for Fulham midfielder Harry Wilson meant Leeds failed to sign the attacking reinforcements their boss craved.
Leeds’ lack of options in attack has continually surfaced away from home, as Farke’s side have failed to score in four of their five away games, including in the recent damaging defeat against Brighton.
Leeds have been linked with a string of players since the transfer window closed, including the free agent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the in-form Coventry City forward Haji Wright.
Now, Farke has attempted to turn attention away from Leeds’ transfer business ahead of a crucial meeting with Nottingham Forest.
Daniel Farke arrives at Elland Road for a Championship clash between Leeds United and Burnley
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Daniel Farke attempts to shut down Leeds United transfer talk
Speaking in his weekly press conference ahead of the tricky trip to the City Ground, Farke was asked whether he had begun thinking about who he would like to sign in the January window.
Although Farke admitted that his planning is underway for the transfer window, he refused to discuss where he would like to strengthen when the window opens.
The Leeds boss said: “To think perhaps, but not to speak about it, because I had to speak about the last transfer window for four months, and right now there will be the time after Christmas. Then, of course, we are allowed to speak about it a bit more during January, but not right now.
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“We are focused on our group, we have a good group together, and I can’t waste 1% of my energy right now to speak about other things.
“I just need to make sure that this group, that we have at least until the 1st of January, that we are as competitive as possible, and there are so many games coming up, so we are fully focused.”
He added: “Our focus is on Nottingham, and we worry about these topics perhaps a bit later in the year.”
Daniel Farke during Brighton & Hove Albion v Leeds United - Premier League
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Leeds United cannot afford to miss out in the January transfer window
Although Leeds fans would have loved Farke to declare the transfer targets he will bring to Elland Road in the new year, realistically, little will become clear until the transfer window opens.
However, what is clear is that Leeds lack the options up front needed to break sides down, particularly away from home, having scored just nine goals in 10 games, the joint-third fewest in the competition.
The best and worst of Leeds’ attack have been on display in their last two games, as they scored twice against West Ham before looking toothless against Brighton.
With Calvert-Lewin struggling for goals and a run of injuries in the wide positions, Leeds cannot afford to leave Farke short again in January.