Leeds United make the trip to Sheffield Wednesday with the potential for a new signing to be in their ranks.
Daniel Farke had claimed in his press conference on Wednesday there would be no incomings in time to face the Owls, but a £10 million move for UD Almeria’s Largie Ramazani was tied up yesterday.
Ramazani‘s involvement in the match at Hillsborough will depend on both whether he was registered in time, and the approval of a work permit. His addition to the squad would be a huge boost after seeing so many key players depart in recent weeks.
Leeds head to Wednesday still looking for their first win of the season having drawn both of their opening two matches against Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion.
Here is our predicted XI for the match.
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Goalkeeper
Illan Meslier kept his first clean sheet of the season at the Hawthorns and so, of course, keeps his place in goal.
Defence
Leeds’ defence had come under a little bit of scrutiny after conceding six goals in their first two matches, but last week’s shutout will have been a huge confidence boost.
Max Wober remains the only injury doubt heading into this one and so providing no injury concerns have arisen in training, Farke won’t be making any changes to his back four.
That means last week’s man of the match Pascal Struijk will partner Joe Rodon at centre-back, with Jayden Bogle and Junior Firpo on the flanks.
Midfield
Midfield remains one of the areas Leeds are still looking to strengthen but it feels unlikely Farke will move away from the pairing which has started the opening two matches.
Leeds have never won a match in which Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev have started alongside one another, but look likely to continue here.
Joe Rothwell continues to push for a start but is clearly seen as an off-the-bench option in the league right now.
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Attack
Leeds’ front four just did not work last weekend and so Ramazani’s arrival will add that little bit of X-Factor which was missing.
Despite being match fit, it is hard to see Farke throwing the 23-year-old straight in from the off even if he is available, and so will have to settle for a place on the bench.
The one and only change needs to come in the number 10 role, with Brenden Aaronson coming in for Joel Piroe after his difficult outing at West Brom.
Farke has so far preferred Aaronson on the left but including him in the side will allow him and Wilfried Gnonto to rotate, with Mateo Joseph and Dan James making up the rest of the XI.
Predicted XI: Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Ampadu, Gruev, James, Aaronson, Gnonto; Joseph
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