Though still early in the season, Leeds United already need to be thinking at how they can strengthen in January.
It is now almost three weeks since the summer window ended with many of Leeds‘ late signings still yet to really get the opportunity to impress.
In fact, of Leeds’ quartet of additions in the final eight days of the window, only Tottenham loanee Manor Solomon has actually started so far.
Angus Kinnear graded Leeds’ transfer business in the summer as a B+, meaning those behind-the-scenes already know they did not address every position they initially set out to.
Daniel Farke was less than impressed with Leeds’ failure to add another number 10, but there is another position which also should’ve been looked at.
Leeds should make Danny Ings a January priority
Mateo Joseph has led the line very well for the most part of Leeds’ opening five matches, but at 20, there is no doubt his finishing is still a little raw.
Joseph has missed a few big chances in his first ever run in senior football, which is understandable given his age. That said, the one he spurned against Burnley was very costly.
The Spanish U21 starlet is deservedly ahead of the likes of Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe in the pecking order, but at this stage of his career, it would be unfair to demand that he starts all 46 games for a promotion chasing team.
With Bamford continuing to struggle with injuries and Piroe not someone who can lead the line on his own, Leeds simply have to be looking at the January market for another striker.
Someone with plenty of experience to dovetail with Joseph’s youth would do the trick, and there would be no better option at this level than Danny Ings.
Like Bamford, Ings has struggled with injuries himself during his career but no one would be expecting him to come in and play every single minute of every game.
The role he would be handed is coming off the bench when Leeds need a goal, and starting the odd game here and there when Joseph needs resting.
He proved in West Ham’s 1-1 draw at Fulham he can do that perfectly, showing brilliant composure inside the area before netting a 95th minute equaliser.
The ‘phenomenal‘ Ings has had just 13 minutes of football for West Ham this season and even after his goal, won’t be happy with that amount of game time.
By coming to Leeds, he would be getting significantly more in a side who are crying out for someone as clinical as him when chances against low blocks are few and far between.
He is more reliable fitness wise than Bamford and if you had to choose one to finish off a big chance, it would be Ings every day of the week.
Leeds wanted Ings in late August swoop
Ings is someone who was actually on Leeds’ radar during the summer, with journalist Darren Witcoop suggesting the Whites were in the mix on talkSPORT.
He said: “There’s a lot of interest in Danny Ings. This one will come down to money, as it often does. Ings wants to play and isn’t in the picture at West Ham in the long term.
“He’d be a good signing for clubs in the Championship. Looking at teams who have money to spend, you cannot look past Burnley and Leeds in the hunt for his signature. Leeds are in the mix for Ings.”
Clearly Leeds recognise the need for a player like Ings and if his situation at West Ham does not improve, it is a no brainer to return.
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