There is one week to go until transfer deadline day and Leeds United still have a few boxes they would like to tick.
Chairman Paraag Marathe has left the door open for movement in the final days of the window and Daniel Farke says he would like a full-back and two more offensive players if possible.
It’s worth noting that the likes of Ao Tanaka and Manor Solomon were acquired during the final week of last summer, so late arrivals does not always mean a reduction in hoped quality. But this year, it seems like more players could leave in the final week than arrive.
IN
James Justin
Leeds have agreed a £10m package deal with Leicester City for full-back James Justin. This includes an up-front fee of £8m with a potential £2m more in add-ons.
United entered into talks with Justin earlier this month but an injury suffered against Preston North End threw haze over the deal being completed. However, his setback is not thought to be serious and his medical is due to be completed imminently.
Winger
Leeds are interested in several options, including Dilane Bakwa. However, contacts close to Strasbourg outline that Nottingham Forest and Sunderland are further down the road in the transfer chase - and there are doubts over his desire to move to Elland Road given the options already at Farke’s disposal. And there has been a suggestion that much of the connections with Leeds is being drummed up by agents.
He’d also cost €35million (around £30m), which is probably too steep anyway. A number of other options are on the radar, the club being alerted to versatile winger Nico Gonzalez of Juventus, who can play across the front and behind the striker, somewhat. It’s this type of winger Farke would prefer.
Striker
Links with various strikers on the continent have been made, with Farke outlining that two more offensive players would be ideal if possible. So it is feasible that a striker gets brought in, though it could be argued this is less likely than a winger.
The trouble is selling the move to a forward given there is only one striker spot in Farke’s 4-3-3 formation, with three senior options already at the club. But with the injury CV of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, there is worry over durability over the course of a season.
At the same time, Farke does not like a department that is too bloated. An interesting call to make.
OUT
Largie Ramazani
Ramazani has not started a league game since December and has not played in either of the first two games so far this season. He may have been weighing up his options before but will be doing so with even more intention after being left out of the squad against Arsenal.
A loan deal with Valencia is close, which is hardly surprising. Ramazani is clearly being edged out of Farke’s plans in light of Noah Okafor’s arrival and he will not want to hang around as the bottom-pick winger.
Isaac Schmidt
Schmidt has also been left out of both Premier League matchday squads. Even if he does feature in the League Cup against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday, the full-back still looks likely to leave on loan amid limited chances of game time.
With a World Cup place on the line, the Switzerland international is yearning for regular minutes. Werder Bremen are interested and their sporting chief says the player has indicated a mutual response.
Illan Meslier
Surely, Meslier has to leave. He is not even on the bench these days with Karl Darlow the back up goalkeeper. This is not the situation a 25-year-old should be in.
The risk of not moving is too stark. Meslier will not have a plethora of takers given his troubles of the past year but he has got to make some sort of move.
The expectancy at Elland Road is that he will. A few lower-ranked French clubs have been linked and that seems a sensible next step in order to regain confidence and stature.
Sam Greenwood
The striker is destined for a permanent exit with just one year left on his deal. Talks have been held with clubs but no known progress has been made beyond initial stages.
That said, one would expect some movement soon. Championship clubs will be assessing their striker options and Greenwood showed he can perform at the level while on loan at Preston North End last season.
Patrick Bamford
Time is ticking and there seems no obvious exit for the unwanted attacker. Bamford is on a big wage, a package he will not get elsewhere.
He still has 12 months left on his deal and so he has no obligation to move. Yet if he doesn’t, his career is effectively over - at an esteemed level anyway. A season in the reserves can easily make him a forgotten man.
On the other foot, trying to outlast a manager is a risky ploy, if that is on the mind. Bamford needs a move and he may have to bite the bullet when it comes to preferences.
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