Dan James is often a talking point among Leeds United fans. Sometimes he’s arguably the best winger in the Championship, but sometimes he lacks end product. For Daniel Farke, it may be a case of giving James some added competition.
So far this season, Dan James has been an important player for Leeds United, with five goals and three assists in his 19 Championship outings so far.
There’s been games and spells where James has been the Whites’ best player. But Leeds United’s draw against Blackburn Rovers last time out summed up the frustration about James, which is that he lacks end product too often.
Daniel Farke has good options on the wings but seems to prefer James and Manor Solomon at the moment, keeping the likes of Wilfried Gnonto and Largie Ramazani at bay. With games coming thick and fast in the second half of the season, Farke will need them all to be ready to play.
Speaking after the Blackburn game, Farke said Leeds will be reactive in the January transfer window, and so James’ form in the next few games could potentially spark a move for a new wide player.
Aston Villa gem Jaden Philogene would be perfect for Leeds United
Aston Villa now look set to loan out Jaden Philogene during the January transfer window, per The Athletic, with the versatile attacker struggling for game time in the Premier League following his return to Villa Park in the summer.
Philogene, 22, is a blistering winger who’s capable to play on both flanks, though he’s naturally right-footed, and he’s also comfortable playing as a no.10, which could give Farke some vital cover for Brenden Aaronson in the second half of the campaign as well.
Fans might remember Philogene from his spell in the Championship last season. The England U21s man scored 12 goals in the league for Hull City, one most notably being a rabona goal.
With bags of pace and a forward-thinking nature, he’s a carbon copy of James, and bringing Philogene to Elland Road for the second half of the season would not only provide cover but also push everyone in his positions to up their game.
Jaden Philogene’s career so far
The last few years have been very stop start for Philogene, who started his career at Villa but has since left and re-joined them.
Coming through the youth ranks at Villa Park, Philogene spent time on loan with Stoke City and Cardiff City between 2022 and 2023, then signing for Hull City on a permanent basis ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
He shone with the Tigers, causing Villa to trigger a buy-back clause. Since however, Philogene has failed to hit the mark in 11 Premier League outings for Villa, mostly playing as a late substitute in games.
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