There were only a few hours between a Leeds United rumour emerging, and it being squashed rather unceremoneously by sources far closer to Elland Road.
Daniel Farke has already told the Leeds United supporters to expect a ‘quiet’ January – albeit while promotion rivals Sunderland and Burnley threaten to make some rather head-turning moves of their own – and the lack of activity in West Yorkshire in the first two weeks of the window has done little to quicken the pulse.
So, when reports emerged on Tuesday suggesting that Leeds offered £3.4 million for Dje D’Avilla of Portuguese outfit UD Leiria, it was tempting to wonder if the winter market was just starting to heat up a little.
However, though, a bucket of ice-cold water has been poured over any flickering flames of excitement.
Reports of a four million euro bid, they say, are wide of the mark. Furthermore, Leeds are ‘unlikely’ to make a move for anyone not be guaranteed a work permit to play in English football.
D’Avilla, a 21-year-old Ivorian without a single cap for the national team, certainly would not be the easiest player to register.
Leeds United’s reported Dje D’Avilla move looks very unlikely
Now, it should be said, those initial, Iberian-based reports highlighted the work permit issue too.
There is also another reason why Leiria may be reluctant to accept a fee of just over £3 million. D’Avilla only signed a new contract until the summer of 2027 a few months ago, after all. A contract which includes a £12.5 million release clause.
Now, this is not to say Leiria – a second-tier club as it stands – would turn their noses up at an offer of £3.4 million. But why include a 15 million euro release clause in the contract of a player you obviously rate very highly, only to let him go for a fraction of that fee less than half a season later?
Daniel Farke explains why Leeds don’t need January signings
This is not to say Leeds will not do some business before the month is out.
The Yorkshire Evening Post claim that a defender and at least two forwards are on the radar, amid claims that Leeds could reunite Daniel Farke with Nico Elvedi of Borussia Monchengladbach or Andrew Omobamidele of Nottingham Forest.
Yet, Farke is a coach who prefers to work with a smaller, more tight-knit squad. And with Ethan Ampadu having already returned, with Ilia Gruev and Junior Firpo stepping up their own recoveries, the problems of Leeds’ squad depth could yet be solved internally.
“Several of the really long-term injured players are back,” Farke said before Leeds defeated Harrogate Town in the FA Cup on Saturday. “It’s important we have Firpo back, Gruev back, Ampadu – thank God -back.
“Ethan seems to be close to being back to his best already. Ilia and Junior look good in training.
“Competition and options are always good for a manager but too many options and the group being too big can divide the whole group. Too many players around who are not needed is not good for the spirit of the group.
“One of the secrets why we are the team who has won more points in the festive period, we’ve found solutions, in my experience is also the spirit within the group, the togetherness and unity, is more important than the quality when it comes to the crunch time.
“To overdo things makes no sense.”
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