Leeds United are hours away from the January transfer deadline having added one to their relegation-battling squad - so what is the state of play at Elland Road?
Leeds United are not currently expecting to add to Daniel Farke's squad on transfer deadline day. Elland Road sources say that while the club will remain open to late possibilities it is thought unlikely that they will bring in a second January signing.
Facundo Buonanotte became only the second January window signing of Farke's tenure at Leeds when he joined on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, having cut short his season-long stint with Chelsea. The Argentine playmaker has already made his Whites debut and got a taste of Elland Road in Saturday's 4-0 defeat by Arsenal.
Leeds had been in the market for a centre forward this month, but that specific centre forward has now completed a medical at Crystal Palace and seems set to join the Eagles in a permanent move from Wolves. The Whites' offer, which was structured in such a way as to avoid Profitability and Sustainability trouble, did not meet with Wolves' valuation and Molineux chiefs were content to wait to the end of the window to see what other possibilities arose.
Last week the YEP reported that the chances of Leeds bringing in another striker were rated as unlikely, if they did not get Strand Larsen. At no point have club sources suggested that a centre-back signing was on the cards, despite numerous inaccurate reports linking them with Union Berlin Danilho Doekhi, and although they made enquiries about Romano Schmid their interest in the Austrian attacker was ended by the capture of Buonanotte.
In terms of outgoings, Jack Harrison’s scant gametime and his desire to leave led to a loan move to Fiorentina, while striker Harry Gray was sent out on loan to League One Rotherham United. Leeds rejected an approach for Lucas Perri from Beşiktaş and shut down interest in centre-back Sebastiaan Bornauw. Talk of Joel Piroe leaving has persisted throughout the month but 49ers Enterprises laughed off an enquiry from Celtic and a move to Rangers was never likely. Piroe’s stance has remained consistent, that he wanted to stay and fight for gametime in the Premier League and Leeds said they would not push him out. Only the arrival of a striker would have tested both parties’ positions.
Farke reiterated at the weekend that the board knew his thoughts on what they needed in the remainder of the window, though he refused to be drawn on what those thoughts were. But the German, who has stated on numerous occasions that he is not a fan of the January window, has made no secret of his desire to protect the squad dynamics and togetherness at Thorp Arch. That has been a big factor in what Leeds would and would not do in terms of January recruitment. He did say the club would stay awake to the possibility of strengthening in areas where they could do with more depth, hinting broadly at the full-back position and up top, but with hours left in the window it seems Farke will be content to go with what he's got for the rest of the Premier League survival fight.
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