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‘They have to discuss’… Manager refuses to rule out January exit for player Leeds now want to sign

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Leeds United are going to need a decent transfer window if they are to keep in touch with the Championship’s top three.

Back-to-back defeats since Christmas have seen Leeds fall six points adrift of third-place Southampton and a further three behind Ipswich Town. They are now also 17 short of leaders Leicester City.

Daniel Farke had promised a quiet January earlier this month but recent results and performances have identified areas of the squad with glaring weaknesses that will now need addressing.

Left-back is a position Farke has already confirmed Leeds will look at, but it now appears they may also look at a number 10, with David Brooks having been linked in the last 24 hours.

And now Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has addressed those links to the Bournemouth Echo in his pre-Tottenham Hotspur press conference, leaving the door open for a potential exit.

Leeds need to get Brooks done

He said: “It is not about one individual situation. It’s a matter sometimes of what they think. David the other day came on and played very good minutes. Some players probably are not getting the minutes they want.

“They have to discuss with the club and take the best possible option for everyone. Sometimes one will leave, because all think it is the best thing. Sometimes they will stay. But right now, before the market opens, I cannot and I will not speak about individual situations.”

AFC Bournemouth v Fulham FC - Premier League
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images

Leeds need to try and get Brooks wrapped up as quickly as possible as he is the type of player Farke’s squad is currently lacking in attacking areas of the pitch.

Leeds would look far more balanced with a left footer like Brooks playing on the right wing, providing the space for Djed Spence to overlap and do what he does best, which is attack.

At the same time, he can also play as a number 10 and aside from Georginio Rutter, Leeds have no creativity in the middle of the pitch. He can provide that in away games, where teams sit deep and Joel Piroe is hugely ineffective.