Daniel Farke is looking to do more business in the final week
Daniel Farke is looking to do more business in the final week(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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Daniel Farke says he is "carefully optimistic" about completing more Leeds United transfers heading into the final week of the window.
The Whites have made four signings, with latest arrival Nico Elvedi starring on debut against Nottingham Forest in Tuesday’s League Cup win.
Harry Wilson, James Trafford and Tarik Muharemovic have all made an impact since arriving with around £80million splashed amid a net spend of £50m. Yet more holes need to be filled including in attack and at left-back.
On whether he is confident that Leeds would bring in all the signings they need before deadline day, Farke said on Tuesday: “There was never a transfer window when I got all my wishes and all the plans that I wanted! But I’m carefully optimistic that we'll have a good ending to the window.
“So I'm pleased with our signings so far. But we know that there are definitely also a few positions where we can improve and have to improve our squad for a long, long season.
"This is also what our supporters, what the club, what Leeds United, deserves - that we try our best in the last second to give ourselves the best possible squad.
"It's always a bit tricky because we want to work sustainably, and we also work with limited resources and have to be a bit more creative sometimes, perhaps more than some other clubs.
“But nevertheless, we are ambitious and want to have also further on some proper signings. And yeah, fingers crossed that works out.”
Farke also dropped relatively vague remarks about centre-back numbers. Leeds currently have four senior, natural options.
Aside from Elvedi, Muharemovic has shown good defensive work overall, while the oft-seen marauding Joe Rodon reminded all of his warrior mentality with an incredible goal-saving, last-ditch tackle on Chris Wood last night.
Jaka Bijol meanwhile continued where he left off last season with a sturdy showing in the 1-0 Premier League triumph over Forest on Saturday. However, there is the obvious risk that Leeds would be stretched should one of these options suffer injury.
James Justin has the ability to play at right-centre-back and has put in some successful shifts there but he is not a natural option and is also used as cover for both wing-back positions.
Farke hailed the experienced Elvedi for his debut excellence on Tuesday, having only arrived in England nine days ago.
But Leeds boss Farke also said: "It's important that we also add a bit more because I wouldn't say that the group [squad] is is too big at all at the moment.
"We need definitely a few more experienced players back from injury like Wilfried Gnonto, like Gabi Gudmundsson, like Ilia Gruev, and also hopefully a few more signings.
“Yes, all my centre-backs have delivered so far. That's quite good. So far we've played in this position more or less four centre-backs in three positions.
"I doubt that over a long season, just four centre-backs are needed. So for that, we have to stay awake, and so far so good. But yeah, it's competition, and this is exactly what we want.”
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