The manager needed only five words to draw a line under a rumour that has been rumbling around Championship title favourites Leeds United during the January transfer window.
What are the chances of Daniel Farke reuniting with an uber-versatile yet currently-underperforming 23-year-old he knows well from Norwich City?
Well, zero. At least, that is the view of Plymouth Argyle boss Miron Muslic.
Wayne Rooney’s Home Park successor is clearly not afraid of speaking his mind – he went viral on social media during an impassioned speech to the Argyle squad after taking over – but Muslic did not feel the need for another lengthy monologue when asked about the future of the Leeds United-linked Bali Mumba.
Speaking after Plymouth dramatically beat West Brom on Saturday thanks to a late Ryan Hardie brace, Muslic confirmed that the right-wing-back would be staying on the South Coast until the summer.
Leeds had shown an interest in Bali Mumba, as football correspondent Graeme Bailey exclusively told Leeds United News. But Plymouth are in no rush to part with one of the first names on their team sheet, even if Mumba is struggling to recapture the form that made him League One’s Young Player of the Year back in 2023.
Plymouth Argyle boss rules out Leeds United move for Bali Mumba
“Not at all,” Muslic said when asked if Mumba could leave before Monday’s 11pm deadline. “No chance.”
The tally of former Norwich players linked with a Farke reunion at Elland Road reached three when Mumba emerged as a target.
Leeds United had hoped to sign Emi Buendia on loan from Aston Villa too, while they reportedly held talks with Nottingham Forest over seldom-seen central defender Andrew Omobamidele.
Buendia joined Bayer Leverkusen instead, however, while Omobamidele moved to France with Strasbourg. Leeds look set to go zero for three now with Plymouth clearly confident of retaining Mumba’s services.
Then again, it’s hard to imagine the Sunderland academy graduate forcing his way into Leeds’ best XI. Archie Gray became such a key part of Farke’s plans before that £30 million move to Tottenham Hotspur due to his tactical flexibility.
Mumba, who can play on the right, in the centre, on the left and further forward, is another capable of operating in a variety of roles. Perhaps Leeds simply saw him as a useful squad player, however, rather than someone who would oust the excellent Jayden Bogle from his place on the team sheet.
Farke feels that Jayden Bogle has been Leeds’ ‘outstanding’ performer in recent weeks, after all.
“Jayden Bogle has been my player of the match for the past ten games,” the German said of his £5 million former Sheffield United full-back following the 2-0 win over Norwich City in January.
“This was a normal game by his high standards. He is outstanding and a top-class character. Great performances in attack and defence.”
Daniel Farke calm on transfer talk as deadline approaches
Leeds have not signed a single player this month, though not for a lack of trying. Southampton rejected Leeds’ loan bid for Cameron Archer this week.
Yet, Farke feels confident that, even without any new faces, this is a squad more than good enough to claim the title anyway.
“You can’t be driven too much by your emotions,” Farke explained as Leeds thrashed Cardiff City 7-0 on Saturday. “We spoke quite openly about [how] I totally trust this group. And, if we go with this group, I’m confident that we can finish in a top position.
“But I think also it’s our responsibility as key people in the club to explore if there is something that could improve the group a bit and make the probability higher that we are successful in the end.
“To find something where we think, OK, it’s a good addition that’s affordable, we will go for it. And, if not, then not.”
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