With the January transfer window now just over a week away, the rumour mill is in full flow and a handful of Leeds United players are being linked with an exit in the winter window.
Daniel Farke’s prediction of a quiet January window could be determined over whether Leeds find themselves having to cash in on a couple of players. Turkish side Besiktas want to sign Junior Firpo.
Elsewhere, Manchester United want Illan Meslier after the Frenchman has been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Rennes. Salzburg want Max Wober, while Wolves could end up signing Wober in January.
Outcast Joe Gelhardt wants to leave Leeds and Pascal Struijk has been loosely linked with Tottenham. So, Leeds may need to replace players if clubs come calling and with Leeds in good form, that’s likely.
Leigh Bromby discusses reports Patrick Bamford could leave
One-time England man Patrick Bamford is also being linked with the exit door. The striker has failed to start a single game and against Oxford United, he remained an unused sub as Leeds eased to a win.
Reports last week said Patrick Bamford could leave Leeds, with Dor Turgeman and Louie Barry lined up as replacements. Then, it emerged that Wrexham and Genoa want Bamford ahead of the January window.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, Leigh Bromby discussed Bamford’s future: “The difficulty with that is they go through all the scenarios. Do keep him because of one of the others gets injured, or do replace him?
“That’s a risk, they know his personality in the group. Will he want to leave? I imagine he’d want minutes – it’s a difficult one. Daniel will have spoke to him. I was the manager, you’d want someone like him.”
Patrick Bamford may get one final Leeds hurrah before exit
Leeds take on Harrogate Town in the third round of The FA Cup on January 11. The first time the two sides will have ever met competitively, though they did do battle in pre-season – a 3-0 Leeds victory.
The likes of Gelhardt, Isaac Schmidt, Josuha Guilavogui and others will be eyeing the game as a chance to show Farke what they can do. For £10m Bamford, it might be his last chance to start for the club.
Whether Leeds are willing to let Bamford go remains to be seen. The striker is on a huge contract worth £40,000 a week and his removal from the list will save Leeds wages, but he is key on and off the pitch.
As Bromby says, having a player like Bamford – one who won’t kick up a fuss – is good for the squad. Farke says he won’t entertain any transfer ins or outs until after the clash against Hull City on the 4th.
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