Leeds United manager Daniel Farke
Leeds United had a relatively quiet winter transfer window as they signed only Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton ahead of a crucial run as they seek to stay in the top flight.
Leeds United managed to secure a convincing 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest at Elland Road.
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While fans might have hoped for significant incomings, last night’s performance offered a potent justification for the club’s restricted business.
Daniel Farke’s side were dominant from the outset. Goals from Jayden Bogle and the revitalised Noah Okafor within a four-minute first-half burst set the platform, before Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s chested finish early in the second half sealed a vital win.
Michael Dawson defends Leeds for a dormant transfer window
United’s only arrival in January, Buonanotte, has failed to make an impact since his move to Leeds, with Farke leaving the Argentinian out of the squad that took on Forest.
The club pursued a striker target in Jorgen Strand Larsen but, upon missing out, chose not to panic-buy. This decision has drawn scrutiny, but Michael Dawson believes it was a calculated risk.
Former defender and pundit, Dawson, has leapt to the club’s defence whilst speaking on Sky Sports. He argued that the existing squad depth made a major signing unnecessary.
“Everything can be easy in hindsight, but for me you have got to realise you have a player of Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s quality,” Dawson stated. “They brought in Buonanotte, and he’s not even made the bench. That could be a problem for Daniel Farke, having too big a squad.”
Dawson believes the club made a conscious, collective decision to back their current options rather than overspend. “I think they have decided not to go out and spend an arm and a leg on a centre-forward who isn’t going to walk into our team and would be for the short term,” he explained. “They have looked at the bigger picture where they have Nmecha, they have Dan James coming back.”
Addressing any lingering fan concern, Dawson added, “I look at Leeds, and I think they are in a strong position. It’s in their hands, and the fans have to see that.”
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Facundo Buonanotte may never become a regular starter for Leeds
At the moment, Buonanotte appears to be a fringe player at best in Farke’s squad, and it is hard to see that position changing in such a short amount of time from now until the end of the season.
Especially when the likes of Brenden Aaronson continue to impress, with the American delivering another good performance against Forest.
Stat Brenden Aaronson
Minutes 78
Shots 2
Key Passes 1
Successful Dribbles 2
Duels Won 10
(Sofascore)
With Buonanotte facing an uphill task to get into the team, Strand Larsen will have also likely endured a similar fate, given Calvert-Lewin’s goalscoring form, perhaps justifying Dawson’s comments about Leeds not having to break the bank in January to avoid the drop.
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