It’s January transfer deadline day and Leeds United are working to complete at least one signing before the window closes.
It’s been a largely uneventful January transfer window for Championship leaders Leeds United so far but that could be able to change at the 11th hour.
Leeds had attempted to add a playmaker in Emi Buendia or Louie Barry to the squad, but Aston Villa opted to send the midfielders on loan elsewhere.
With no other obvious targets in the position, Leeds are instead now looking to add a striker to give Daniel Farke’s squad some additional fire power in the promotion push.
Though Leeds are top of the Championship table, title rivals Burnley and Sheffield United have made big moves in the transfer market.
Burnley have managed to recruit Marcus Edwards from Sporting on deadline day while the Blades have recruited heavily with Tom Cannon, Ben Brereton Diaz, Hamza Choudury and Harry Clarke.
With the competition strengthening, Leeds are now looking to conduct some last minute business on deadline day.
Who Leeds United could sign on deadline day
Reports that Leeds were closing in on Newcastle defender Matt Targett ahead of the weekend now appear to have been well wide of the mark.
Left-back has never been a position Leeds needed to strengthen this month as long as Junior Firpo didn’t leave.
Instead, a playmaker was a bigger priority but, with those moves failing, attention has shifted to signing frontman Cameron Archer instead.
Though the Southampton striker has struggled in the Premier League, his record of 18 goals and seven assists in 40 Championship games could be just the boost needed to get Leeds over the line.
A loan move was initially rejected last week but with Southampton now signing striker Victor Udor, it would seem Archer could be free to go.
Elsewhere, Leeds have been interested in signing a centre-back in the window, with Borussia Monchengladbach’s Nico Elvedi emerging as a target.
Pascal Struijk’s injury not being as bad as first feared has reduced the need to sign him this month but, on a dream deadline day, Leeds would still get him in through the door for extra defensive back-up in the event of another injury.
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Farke’s strongest Leeds team after best possible deadline day
Whether Leeds sign one, two or no players on deadline day, Farke’s strongest XI won’t change by much.
Should he arrive, Elvedi would bring Bundesliga and even Champions League pedigree to Elland Road so, also given his fee, you’d expect him to be first choice in defence.
Yet, the partnership of Struijk and Joe Rodon has been imperious at the back this season. If one was to make way, as harsh it is, it may have to be Struijk.
With the midfield and wingers remaining untouched, that leaves just the striker position up for grabs.
Archer has played as a second striker – and even out wide – before but it’s as the main forward where he performs best. There’s always the chance Farke could play he and Joel Piroe up front together but it will likely be one or the other.
Piroe may have scored a brace in the 7-0 thrashing of Cardiff but it was just the third match he’s scored in since the start of December, a period of 12 games.
Real competition for a place could do him good but Archer may usurp his starting spot before too long.
Leeds strongest starting XI after dream deadline day: Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Elvedi, Firpo; Rothwell, Tanaka; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Archer.
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