Leeds United only have a matter of hours left to bolster their squad for the second half of the Premier League season before the transfer window slams shut.
They have only signed Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion so far in the window, and he has come off the bench in his first two appearances for the club.
facundo-buonanotte-leeds
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest and West Ham United, the two teams directly below them in the table, have been making moves, with the former signing Lorenzo Lucca and Stefan Ortega, and the latter signing Taty Castellanos, Pablo, and Adama Traore.
Biggest winter deals Premier League 2026 (deadline day)
The Hammers, as shown in the graphic above, spent £47m on two new forwards, and Leeds are yet to make any permanent additions to their squad in a bid to avoid an instant relegation to the Championship.
Leeds exploring deal to sign attacking midfielder
Wolves centre-forward Jorgen Strand Larsen was a target for the Whites. They were willing to spend £40m to sign him, but Crystal Palace have swooped in ahead of them to land a £48m deal for the Norway international.
Strand Larsen
It now remains to be seen whether or not the club will look to sign an alternative number nine target before the end of the window, but they are reportedly keen on another midfielder.
LeedsLive journalist Isaac Johnson reports that the club are, though, alive to any late market chances to add a player to their squad, so they are not shutting the door on incomings.
According to MailSport's Dominic King, Leeds United are exploring a last-gasp deal to sign FC Krasnodar attacking midfielder Eduard Spertsyan before the deadline.The reporter claims that the Whites are racing against the clock to puruse a last-minute move to sign the Armenia international to bolster their options in the middle of the park.
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King adds that Spertsyan is keen on a move to the Premier League, but it remains to be seen whether or not the club can reach an agreement with Krasnodar at this late stage in the window.
Why Leeds should sign Eduard Spertsyan
The Whites should push to get this deal done before the deadline later today because he has the potential to be a brilliant addition to the squad for the second half of the season.
Brenden-Aaronson
Spertsyan's performances for Krasnodar suggest that he could arrive at Elland Road this evening to be a big upgrade on Brenden Aaronson in the middle of the park for Daniel Farke.To his credit, Aaronson has surpassed expectations to provide four goals and three assists in 23 appearances in the Premier League so far this season, but the Whites could still improve in his position.
The USA international has provided a decent threat at the top end of the pitch for the West Yorkshire outfit, but Spertsyan's form so far this season suggests that he can offer even more.
25/26 Russian PL Spertsyan
Appearances 18
Goals 8
Conversion rate 21%
Key passes per game 3.3
Big chances created 12
Assists 12
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Armenian playmaker has produced 20 goal contributions in 18 appearances in the league so far this term, which is a staggering return.Whilst it would be foolish to expect him to directly translate that form over to the Premier League, as he would be the division's new Kevin De Bruyne if that were the case, but even if he could bring a fraction of that quality over, Spertsyan could be a big upgrade on Aaronson.
brenden-aaronson-leeds-villa
The Leeds midfielder has only averaged 1.0 key passes per game in the Premier League this season, which is less than a third as many key passes per game as Spertsyan has managed in the Russian top-flight.Therefore, Leeds could improve the creativity and quality of their midfield by swooping for the Armenia international before the deadline, even if it is a risky move given he is unproven in the Premier League.