The fact is that, with promotion on the line, Leeds United have no real idea which division they will be playing their football in come the beginning of 2024/25.
The 2-0 midweek win over Daniel Farke’s former employers Norwich City lifted the Yorkshire giants back to the Championship summit, yes. But, with Burnley, Sheffield United and Sunderland to come over the next few weeks, it is far too soon for Leeds United to plant their flag into the ground and proclaim the mountain as their own.
As such, bringing new players to Elland Road in the winter window is proving somewhat tricky. Leeds are yet to make their first signing of the New Year, even if Aston Villa’s Emi Buendia could still end up reuniting with Farke.
There is, of course, the complicating factor of Leeds being able to put the prospect of Premier League football on the table, all the while without being able to guarantee it 100 per cent.
Would Nico Elvedi, for instance, leave Bundesliga football with Borussia Monchengladbach for life in England’s second tier, should Leeds fail to secure promotion for the second year in a row?
According to reports coming out of Sweden, meanwhile, Hammarby striker Jusef Erabi has decided to postpone any decision over his own future until the summer.
Leeds United target Jusef Erabi commits future to Hammarby
Jusef Erabi has been mentioned as a potential Patrick Bamford replacement at Leeds. A physically imposing 6ft centre-forward some have nicknamed ‘the Swedish Hulk’ due to his broad-shouldered brawn inside the penalty area.
Previous reports indicated that Sweden Under-21 international Erabi would cost £8 million.
Fotboll Direkt, however, claim that the Hammarby IF number nine will be available for closer to £5 million instead, as long as he sticks around until the summer.
And stick around he will, it seems.
The report adds that Erabi has agreed, in conjunction with the Hammarby bosses and sporting director Mikael Hjelmberg, to stay put for another few months before considering his options later down the line. Whether Leeds are still interested at that point remains to be seen.
There is, of course, the risk that a Premier League return will see Leeds shift their focus to more expensive, high-profile targets.
Swedish striker flattered by Leeds links but plans to stay in Scandinavia for now
Erabi, with his affordable price-tag and a respectable if underwhelming return of 11 goals from 28 games across the 2024 campaign, feels like the sort of target a Championship club may take a punt on, but maybe not a side with greater funds at their disposal and more substantial pulling power.
“[Leaving in January] would have been very, very difficult,” Erabi said, having rejected Serie A outfit Genoa a year ago.
It should be pointed out that Jusef Erabi is ‘flattered’ by the admiration shown in him from abroad. But, in the event that Leeds are promoted, and should Erabi struggle for form in the opening months of 2025, he may yet look back with some regret, feeling that the proverbial boat has been missed.
They say loyalty is dead in modern football, yes. But there are certainly times to put yourself, and your own career, first.
“Yes, of course, [the interest from abroad] is flattering,” Erabi admitted earlier this month. “Then, if it’s the right step or the right choice, you have to take it.
“[Hammarby] is really the club I grew up in. But, like every player and coach does, you have to think about yourself, your own best interests. So it wouldn’t bother me at all if we were to win the Swedish league and I wasn’t here.
“I would just be happy.”
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