Leeds United need an alternative to Facundo Buonanotte ahead of the transfer deadline, with the Brighton playmaker joining Chelsea.
The squad remains unfinished despite signing 10 new Leeds United players this summer, but Daniel Farke wants a versatile creative player at the very least and Facundo Buonanotte can be utilised as a right-sided winger or No.10.
Talk regarding a move being close came after Leeds United News exclusively revealed Brighton’s stance on Buonanotte and that Leeds have ‘never left the table’ this summer, with interest in his signature throughout.
Graham Smyth confirmed Buonanotte’s Thursday flight was cancelled to Leeds. Initially, it was not known why. However, it then came out that Chelsea have hijacked the move for Buonanotte instead, with BlueCo also agreeing a loan.
Leeds United plan after Facundo Buonanotte developments
Spurs’ move for Xavi Simons impacted the Buonanotte deal, as Chelsea have moved for the Argentine as a versatile attacking option, much like the former RB Leipzig and PSG star.
Now, Graham Smyth has explained what Leeds need to do to find an alternative to replace him as Leeds’ creative signing. However, he also explained that he would sign more attackers, too.
Speaking via the Inside Elland Road Podcast, Smyth said: “He [Buonanotte] is a profile that Leeds need. The vacancy, as they see, it is right wing/No.10. That’s the priority vacancy.
“Going into yesterday, ahead of the press conference, the expectation at Leeds United was definitely for one. They weren’t promising any more than that.
“But there’s a there’s a certain amount of expectation setting there because you don’t want to tell fans we’ll have three by the end of the weekend and then you only end up with one.
“You only end up with two and then it looks like a failure. I think we could still see outs. We’ve obviously seen them clear the decks a little bit yesterday.
“We can talk about that, but I still think there might be one or two outs and maybe there’ll be an unexpected out. Like, the last weekend of a transfer window can be absolutely insane or it can be super boring.
“Leeds can’t really afford for it to be super boring. They probably don’t want it to be completely insane. They probably don’t want an unexpected departure.
“You know, don’t want somebody who’s a big asset suddenly having their head turned and an offer comes in from a big club and they want to go. But in in a case like that, you know, they’d have to replace.
“So, they’re going to have to be very agile and very very quick off the mark to do stuff this weekend. And I think they need more than one.
“Personally, I don’t think one would quite complete the squad. I think they need more than one in attacking areas.”
Bilal El Khannouss emerges as Buonanotte alternative frontrunner
At one stage, Leeds’ Bilal El Khannouss interest was the most serious of any team in the race after it was revealed that Leicester are open to selling El Khannous in this transfer window after their relegation.
Crystal Palace have pulled out of the race for Leicester’s playmaker altogether now, albeit that doesn’t mean Leeds are at the head of the queue just yet.
Tottenham Hotspur have had recent El Khannouss interest amid the fact Leeds have reopened El Khannouss talks as their primary target ahead of the transfer deadline, as Leeds United News exclusively revealed.
That would be a different profile to Buonanotte but still one ticking a number of the correct boxes for Leeds. He can also operate as a winger or No.10; even if he is perhaps weaker in some areas of his skill-set, he is also stronger in others.
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