Wilfried Gnonto Leeds United
Leeds United didn’t sign anyone on transfer deadline day, and their only winter window addition was the arrival of Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton.
The Whites were interested in signing a striker in January. However, they decided against getting into a bidding war for top target Jorgen Strand Larsen, who joined Crystal Palace for a deal worth up to £48m.
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Leeds were linked with a move for ex-Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran, and they even attempted to push through a loan deal for Krasnodar captain Eduard Spertsyan on deadline day.
However, no new addition was made on the final day of the winter transfer window, which has reflected in the latest predictions for this season’s relegation race in the Premier League.
Opta has updated it’s relegation prediction for Leeds United
Leeds sit 16th in the Premier League table, with a six-point lead over West Ham, who occupy the last of the three relegation spots in the standings.
The Premier League’s bottom six
Pos Team Played W D L GF GA GD Points
15 Crystal Palace 24 7 8 9 25 29 -4 29
16 Leeds United 24 6 8 10 31 42 -11 26
17 Nottingham Forest 24 7 5 12 24 35 -11 26
18 West Ham United 24 5 5 14 29 48 -19 20
19 Burnley 23 3 6 14 25 44 -19 15
20 Wolverhampton Wanderers 24 1 5 18 15 45 -30 8
The club’s decision not spend money on a striker or a goalkeeper is being seen as baffling in some quarters as all their relegation rivals have spent considerable sums on new signings.
Leeds’ relative inactivity in the winter window has also reflected in Opta’s latest relegation predictions and who could finish where in the Premier League table.
Their relegation odds were pegged at just a shade under 9 per cent last week, but that number has ticked up in the latest release.
Opta has suggested that Leeds now have a close to 10 per cent chance of getting relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season.
The bottom three are still heavily favoured to go down, but Leeds’ transfer inactivity has reflected on the prediction for the rest of the campaign.
Nottingham Forest, despite sitting below Leeds in the table, are currently being tipped as having a stronger chance of survival than the Whites.
Leeds have taken a huge gamble
Daniel Farke made it clear towards the end of the window that he would be keen on signing a new goalkeeper, and the lack of depth in the striker department remains a concern.
With Lukas Nmecha struggling with injuries, the Whites have gambled on keeping Dominic Calvert-Lewin fit for the rest of the season.
The lack of stability between the sticks is a huge concern as well, and there is shock that the club at least didn’t try to sign a goalkeeper once they failed to sign Strand Larsen.
At the moment, Leeds are one Calvert-Lewin injury away from a real crisis. Nmecha can’t be trusted to remain fit, and Farke has shown little faith in Joel Piroe.
Leeds have stood still while their relegation rivals have strengthened. The fans will hope that the club do not regret their decision-making at the end of the season.