Daniel Farke spoke about Leeds United's January transfer window ahead of facing Nottingham Forest.
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke says small adjustments in a January transfer window are a good sign and he backs his squad to achieve their survival goal.
The Whites went into the window with the idea of strengthening Farke's attacking options and according to the German they were staying alert to the possibility of adding depth at full-back. But when the deadline came on Monday night, Facundo Buonanotte was the only new arrival in the month. The loanee from Brighton can play right wing or as a number 10, ticking a box that the club were unable to tick last summer. But having placed a bid for Wolves centre forward Jorgen Strand Larsen, who instead moved to Crystal Palace, Leeds were unable to add extra depth up front. And they did no business in the midfield, defence or goalkeeping departments.
"I have to say normally it's a good sign when you don't do much in January," said Farke. "If you look across Europe to the clubs in a good position you see they rarely do much in January. When you have to do a lot normally you have to repair some mistakes from the summer or to deal with a situation with many injuries. It's a good sign if you just change a few details. For us we have just adjusted some details. In total we've allowed Jack Harrison to go out on loan because it was his wish, he didn't have that much gametime and his behaviour was professional. We have proactively sent Harry Gray out on loan and so far, so good, touch wood the perfect start, exactly what we were wishing for. Lots of game time and good performances.
"And we've added another loan for us in Facundo Buonanotte. Little adjustments and we move on. We have achieved with this group of players plus Jack, minus Facundo, 26 points, progressed in the FA Cup and I'm quite confident that with this group we are capable to finish the job in the Premier League. It will still be hard work and I hope to progress further on in the FA Cup. I have this group and I concentrate to give my group all the backing, all my work and trust and I'm confident we can achieve our goals."
Farke refused to be drawn on specifics of the business Leeds tried to do regarding Strand Larsen and believes it would be counterproductive for squad harmony to come out after the deadline and speak about positions that needed to be strengthened but were not. He underlined the importance of sensible financial decisions when it comes to recruitment, reiterating that Leeds were working with 'limited resources.'
But he went on to suggest that even when there are good options who might be available in a window, signing them might not be the best course of action in his eyes. Particularly if he has the morale of a key player in mind, in that position.
"It's important for our recruitment [people] also to come up with suggestions and players that we potentially could sign, or we would like to sign, but it's up for me to run the football, and up for me also to feel what the group needs," he said. "Scouts have a different view, a bit like they look at the potential of the player, if a player is available on the potential side of a deal, but it's more like it should be the manager who is in charge, who feels also what the group needs in terms of characters, in terms of spirit, in terms of profiles of the players.
"Sometimes there are even top players available, but it doesn't suit the profile, just due to the fact that it would be perhaps even too much of an option, or a different type or a player in a position where you have an important player and you don't want to annoy him. Or a player who comes in a certain position and doesn't accept a back-up role. It's fine margins and the experience and knowledge of a manager to know what the group feels. It's not just bringing the best potential signings together and you're successful, it's important to build the spirit within the group carefully. I'm pretty picky who I want."
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