Leeds United sit top of the Championship table after 16 games following Sunday’s win over Swansea City, but Dominic Matteo has identified what Leeds must do in the January window.
Nine wins and only two defeats see Leeds sit on 32 points from 16 games and in the Championship, two points per game is an average that secures automatic promotion. Leeds are ticking along very nicely.
The January window is edging into view. Daniel Farke only made one signing in last season’s January window, and had they brought one or two other faces in it might have given Leeds the boost required.
But only Connor Roberts arrived and he played a bit-part role as Leeds were nudged out of the race for the automatic spots, and suffered defeat in the Championship play-off final. Leeds need to bolster depth.
Dominic Matteo identifies signing Leeds must make in January
Last season, Leeds had to rely on individuals at times. Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter often pulled some magic out of the hat, but when they didn’t, Leeds would struggle and fail to win matches.
This season, the source of goals and assists is a lot more varied. Joel Piroe remains the club’s top scorer but only with six at this stage, with Farke chopping and changing between Piroe and Mateo Joseph.
Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt are warming the bench, if the latter even gets a place on the bench. Dom Matteo told LUTV before the game that Leeds need a goal machine up top, ahead of January.
“A lot of Leeds people and the group that I’m involved in are saying that we just need an out-and-out striker. Someone to put the ball in the back of the net,” Leeds icon Matteo said before Sunday’s win.
“I like Mateo Joseph and the players in that area, but I genuinely still believe we need a main striker. Pat has done well for us, but if we had a proper striker – another one – it would strengthen us so, so much.”
Goals and assists shared as Wilfried Gnonto reaches eight
Gnonto had failed to score in his previous six Championship games and it saw the Italian dropped from the starting line-up, but he came on to score the winner against Swansea to clock up an eighth victory.
| Name | Games | Involvements | Goals | Assists | Minutes per G+A |
| Wilfried Gnonto | 15 (1) | 8 | 3 | 5 | 155.5 |
| Joel Piroe | 8 (8) | 8 | 6 | 2 | 93.6 |
| Brenden Aaronson | 14 (2) | 5 | 1 | 1 | 247.2 |
| Mateo Joseph | 9 (7) | 5 | 2 | 3 | 169.2 |
| Largie Ramazani | 6 (2) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 109 |
| Dan James | 7 (3) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 150.3 |
| Junior Firpo | 13 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 285.8 |
| Manor Solomon | 4 (5) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 152.7 |
Do Leeds need a striker, then? The Whites have scored 28 goals in 16 Championship games so far, with Sunday’s win the first time they have scored four this season. Only Middlesbrough have score more goals.
Boro scored six times on Saturday. So, there are plenty of goals in this Leeds side even if Piroe and Joseph are not banging in the goals, while Bamford awaits his chance in the starting line-up, yet to make a start.
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