New Leeds United target now expected to leave after what’s just happened, Daniel Farke is keen

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It’s only been a few weeks since the summer window slammed shut, but Leeds United are already being linked with several players ahead of the January market.

Especially, because Leeds failed to sign Facundo Buonanotte and Harry Wilson. Daniel Farke called for more attacking signings or warned the Leeds board that the club would struggle to avoid relegation.

Given no signings were made, that concern will surely remain in Farke’s mind despite positive results against Wolves and Bournemouth. The rumour mill has not stopped despite the deadline passing.

Reports last week said that Leeds were considering ambitious moves for two Serie A playmakers. Farke is keen on Roma’s Italy star Lorenzo Pellegrini and Inter Milan and Poland veteran Piotr Zielinski in January.

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Journalist expects Piotr Zielinski to leave after Saturday snub

Pellegrini will certainly be available in January. His Roma deal ends next summer, and Gian Piero Gasperini has advised Pellegrini to leave to get the game time that boosts his chances of a 2026 World Cup call-up.

Meanwhile, Zielinski has struggled since swapping Napoli for Inter in the summer of 2024. Last season, he managed just two goals and three assists in 39 games, and this term, he’s managed just four sub outings.

On Saturday, Zielinski was an unused substitute for a second consecutive match by new Inter manager Christian Chivu during a 2-0 win over Cagliari. Meczyki writer Mateusz Rokuszewski thinks Zielinski will go.

“The change of coach certainly didn’t do Zieliński any good, and new players have arrived. We could have treated the previous season as a kind of prelude and a moment when the Pole gets to know the team.

“Especially since Henrikh Mkhitaryan is very advanced in age. But that moment seems to have passed. If this is how his adventure with the new coach begins, I don’t see a rosy future for him in the near future.”

Piotr Zielinski’s career in numbers, for both club and country

This is a player with huge experience at the top level. A Champions League player, able to play in many attacking positions, whether that be out wide on either flank, as a no.10 or even as a striker with another.

A player with 101 caps for his country, Zielinski has one more move in Europe left before he considers the MLS, Saudi Arabia, or lesser footballing countries willing to offer a big payday for the likes of Zielinski.

Zielinski is a player who would improve Leeds and quickly bolster the club’s chances of avoiding the drop come May 2026. Whether he’d be tempted with a move to Elland Road in January remains to be seen.