Leeds United are expected to try and make a couple of signings in the January window as Daniel Farke looks to correct last January’s mistakes and bolster a side pushing for promotion.
Last January, Leeds only made one signing in the form of Connor Roberts on loan from Burnley. But Farke needed more than that, he needed a centre-back and probably a no.10 to give Leeds more quality depth.
The need for a new no.10 remains, with Brenden Aaronson doing well without excelling. There is also a lack of cover in the 10 role, and Graham Smyth expects Leeds to go in for a no.10 in January window.
Leeds have options in midfield even with Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev out. Josuha Guilavogui has been drafted in to provide cover while another has been linked, a player Daniel Farke said is “really good”.
Tottenham stance on Leeds United re-signing Archie Gray
Gray of course, left Leeds for Tottenham in the summer to the tune of £40m. A quarter of which was used to re-sign Joe Rodon from Spurs on a permanent basis, after his excellent Elland Road loan last term.
While Gray has been used from the start in all six of Tottenham’s cup games, Gray is yet to start a Premier League match. Football London say there has been talk of a short-term loan back to Leeds in January.
But, the report shares Tottenham’s stance on Gray returning to Leeds. Rodrigo Bentancur has now been banned for seven games, domestically. Football London say it is ‘very unlikely’ that Gray is allowed to go.
Archie Gray’s importance at Tottenham has just gone up a notch
Spurs do have other midfield options, but Gray has suddenly become much more important to Tottenham after Bentancur’s ban. It might be then that between now and January, Gray gets a Premier League start.
Tottenham’s midfield options:
| Name | Premier League starts | Premier League games | Cup starts | Cup games |
| Dejan Kulusevski | 10 | 11 | 1 | 5 |
| Rodrigo Bentancur | 7 | 10 | 3 | 5 |
| James Maddison | 9 | 11 | 2 | 4 |
| Pape Sarr | 4 | 11 | 4 | 6 |
| Yves Bissouma | 4 | 8 | 3 | 4 |
| Archie Gray | 0 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Lucas Bergvall | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are more attacking players, and will not be used in Bentancur’s role. Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr will sit above Gray, but it does see Gray move up the pecking order.
It means that while Bentancur is only allowed to play in Europe, Gray will at least move one place up the ladder. But when Bentancur returns, it might make Gray more expendable for the second half of 24-25.
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