Leeds United remain in the market for at least one new defensive reinforcement, as things stand.
Daniel Farke made his desire to strengthen at full-back clear a long time ago but Leeds are yet to make any real progress in doing so, with just over two weeks of the window remaining.
Sam Byram is currently the only cover to either Junior Firpo or Jayden Bogle and so any kind of injury crisis would leave Leeds desperately short in a crucial area of the pitch.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hugo Bueno was one name linked with a move, though he is instead on his way to Feyenoord due to Leeds’ inability to guarantee regular game time immediately.
One other name to have emerged on the radar in recent days is Chelsea’s Bashir Humphreys, but interest in him raises more questions than answers given what Leeds currently have in the squad.
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What interest in Bashir Humphreys means for Max Wober
Leeds and Burnley are said to be the two sides showing the most ‘concrete’ interest in Humphreys right now, with a move likely to be finalised in the coming days, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Chelsea would actually prefer to sell Humphreys permanently as opposed to loaning him out, something which could work in Leeds’ favour after what happened with Bueno.
However, Humphreys is actually more of a centre-back than he is full-back, and given that he is left-footed, his arrival would raise question marks regarding what it could mean for Max Wober’s future at Leeds.
Wober was an unused substitute in Leeds’ first game of the season on Saturday and someone of his international pedigree will not want to settle for second choice over the course of a season.
Graeme Bailey told LeedsUnited.News last week there is still a chance Wober could go, while Borussia Monchengladbach director Roland Virkus has hinted they could make a late move for him this month after his loan spell last season, amid a reporting asking price of £8.5 million.
Farke did say in his press conference on Thursday that Wober has already told him he would like to stay, but interest in Humphreys does feel like an indicator they are planning for life without him.
Unlike Brenden Aaronson, Wober has also not spoken publicly about his return to Leeds, which again leaves the door slowly ajar for him still to leave.
What Farke said about Wober’s future
As mentioned, Farke covered Wober’s apparent decision to stay in great detail last week, shedding light on some of the conversations they have had behind-the-scenes.
Here is exactly what the Leeds boss had to say about the Austrian.
He said: “He was a bit longer involved in the tournament [Euros], it was more difficult and we had a good chat on the telephone when he was playing for Austria. Then I allowed him 2.5 weeks of holiday to clear his head and come back.
“The chat was I want to be there and prove my worth. It’s always the same, a player comes in and their last experience was relegation and their reputation is maybe not on the top level, like Georgi or Illan last year. Now everyone is fully convinced and singing their names.
“Max was a bit careful to be too loud within the group, wants to adapt, especially in the German training camp. We sit together after the first three weeks of training and he said straight away, knocked on my office, he said ‘boss sorry am I allowed to come in, I’m 100 per cent convinced, I want to be here.’
“The same with Brenden, one good training session or game is not everything to win back supporters but he has my backing, he has been good in training, they will need a few weeks until they are back to 100 per cent.
“I get the feeling they can play a really important part. He is really desperate to prove his worth. Let’s not celebrate it too much, the actions are more important than the words.”
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