The January market is open and Leeds United will be assessing their options
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
07:30, 02 Jan 2026
Daniel Farke
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Daniel Farke's Leeds United may be active in the January transfer window
Daniel Farke says he wishes to maintain a tight group at Leeds United and the unity created from that has been borne out in the recent results gained through dogged resilience and character.
Having a good drive and character is central to Farke's recruitment criteria at Elland Road. A number of insiders around the club have underlined how they, genuinely, feel there are no rotten apples among the squad with all ‘great lads’.
At the same time, it would be remiss if Leeds did not look at the January market. Given PSR limits are maxed out, United will have to be shrewd - either by securing loans or offsetting any expenditure by the end of June.
That, and indeed ensuring the right players are brought in, is a fine balance. The goalless draw with Liverpool and Anfield displayed the best qualities of this squad’s mental robustness. Yet suspension and injuries have also hit the squad.
Three players are currently nursing injuries and even without Ethan Ampadu’s one-game ban against Manchester United - as a result of five yellow cards inside 19 league matchweeks - the squad would have been stretched.
Farke says the formation change of the last few weeks - and the success it has brought - has slightly influenced how he is approaching the January market. In the 3-5-2 formation, there is more of an emphasis on centre-backs and forwards, not to mention wing backs.
Leeds have four centre-backs among their ranks, meaning if one gets injured - like Joe Rodon is - it is more or less de facto that all the other three will be starting, with the 3-5-2 seemingly here to stay.
Of course, there are makeshift options such as Ampadu, James Justin and Sam Byram but these are not natural centre-halves.
When Sebastiaan Bornauw went down with cramp after a sterling full Premier League debut, Farke turned to right-back Jayden Bogle to see out the final few minutes as one of the back three. That is fine for 10 minutes but not for 90.
Similarly, there is not much behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Lukas Nmecha. Joel Piroe is clearly not a fit in this system going by Farke’s usage of him - so much so that Noah Okafor, a winger by trade, is the third choice centre-forward.
Leeds might have enough at wing-back given the versatile James Justin has produced consistent performances when called upon and Farke will see Jack Harrison as an option on the left, having deployed him there on occasion. Whether fans are happy about that is another thing.
But there are more pressing transfer needs. Midfield numbers need to be considered too given Sunday will mark the third time this season that two of the five natural central options have been unavailable for a game.
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Brenden Aaronson’s form may mean this is lower down the priority list, and Leeds will clearly need to be careful and stringent in who they bring in this month - there will not be a mass influx nor a lot of money spent.
Last night’s game with Liverpool was noble and a point was deserved but ranks need to be bolstered to prevent the squad being stretched to burnout.