Anyone Leeds United sign in the January transfer window simply has to be able to come in and make an instant impact.
Leeds are once again in the midst of a Championship promotion battle that could go to the wire and the pressure is very much on to return to the Premier League.
As such, Leeds cannot be wasting anytime on potential when it comes to signings next month. That is, of course, if they opt to bring anyone in at all.
Daniel Farke is hoping for a quiet January at Leeds, but if the opportunity is there to improve the squad then he certainly wouldn’t rule it out.
Number 10 remains Leeds’ position of priority, but another striker certainly wouldn’t go amiss considering both Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph’s inability to nail down a starting spot.
Lennon Miller’s dad makes transfer claim amid Leeds interest
One player who has been linked with a move to Leeds ahead of the January window is Motherwell’s Lennon Miller, though they certainly aren’t alone in taking an interest.
Brighton and Southampton are reportedly the most likely destinations for Miller at this stage, in a deal that could be worth £5 million.
Miller is only 18 but has already captained Motherwell on several occasions this season, with big clubs not just in the United Kingdom having been linked.
However, speaking on the latest episode of ‘The Warm-Up’ Podcast, Miller’s dad Lee has told his son to ensure his next move is to a club where he is guaranteed to play regularly.
He said: “Italy are looking at Scottish players, especially midfielders right now and for whatever reason they are getting them across there and actually playing, which is a really good option. For me, my advice to Lennon is you need to be playing. His next move is so important to play and develop.
“He doesn’t want to go and play in the under-23s and build himself up, he’s a first-team player now. People are respecting him for that, his team-mates are respecting him for that so it is a difficult one.
“He’s loving playing at Motherwell but it will eventually come when he has to go to further his career. There are massive clubs, it’s over the media the clubs are interested. We bounce ideas off each other and have a laugh.
“It’s not as easy as saying this big club is in for you, we’ll go there. There are so many layers – the manager, the ethos, the style of play, the environment has to be right. It’s a difficult one but if it does come to that, you weigh up the pros and cons, meet people and see how it goes from there.”
Why do Miller’s dad’s comments rule Leeds out?
Miller is more of a box-to-box type of midfielder and that is arguably the position in which Leeds are strongest right now.
With Ethan Ampadu now back from injury, and Ilia Gruev also on the road to recovery, Miller would be sixth choice at best if he was to join Leeds. That is also, perhaps generously, putting him ahead of Charlie Crew.
Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell have both been in sensational form in recent months but when Ampadu is fully fit, they may well be competing with each other for a place in the side.
That shows the level of competition Leeds have in midfield at the moment, meaning Miller’s dad’s wish of him finding a club to play regular minutes, simply wouldn’t come true at Elland Road.
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