Money is there for Leeds United to spend during this January transfer window. But whether or not Daniel Farke chooses to spend much, if any at all, remains to be seen.
Daniel Farke has a few tough calls to make during the January transfer window, no less because his Leeds United side are somewhat out of form, and seeing their lead at the top of the Championship table shrink rapidly.
After Leeds United’s 3-3 draw against Hull City last time out, the Whites now boast a one-point lead over Burnley in 2nd, with Sheffield United in 3rd also just one point behind Leeds who play Harrogate Town in the FA Cup on Saturday.
In the build up to January, an impressive 19 players have been linked with Leeds. Though right now it doesn’t look like any are close to moving to Elland Road with a lot of Leeds’ reported transfer targets seemingly closing in on alternative moves.
Leeds United handed Lewis O’Brien reminder at Nottingham Forest
One player linked with Leeds United in the summer, and indeed in transfer windows prior to that is Lewis O’Brien. The Nottingham Forest midfielder is something of a long-term target with Victor Orta having tried to sign O’Brien at Leeds previously.
Before the 2024/25 season started, Leeds United tried to sign O’Brien from Nottingham Forest on a permanent deal. Instead, the 26-year-old joined Los Angeles FC on loan where he featured 13 times in the MLS, claiming one assist.
Now though, Alan Nixon has revealed on Patreon that O’Brien is returning to the City Ground because LAFC wouldn’t pay the £5million fee that Forest want for O’Brien, who’s seemingly surplus to requirements at the Premier League club.
Nixon adds that Forest could now ‘try to find’ O’Brien a loan club for the second half of the season, suggesting the Championship to be his likeliest destination.
Transfer expert has already rated Lewis O’Brien to Leeds United
Earlier in the season, Graeme Bailey gave his verdict on O’Brien to Leeds United, telling Leeds United News exclusively what he thought about the idea.
Bailey said: “He’s done well in America. He’s enjoying there and he’s likely to stay there. I think if he was available on loan until the end of the season with a view, it would be something that Leeds might look at, but as it stands now, I personally don’t see him being an improvement on what they’ve got.”
Now with O’Brien available for a move, Bailey’s previous comments suggest that Leeds may well look into the possibility during the January window, with the 26-year-old midfielder certainly someone who Farke has done his homework on in the past.
Though like Bailey’s comments also suggest, O’Brien could be a bench-warmer if he moved to Elland Road. Joe Rothwell, Ao Tanaka, and Ethan Ampadu currently have those two midfield spots locked down.
But an injury to any of them in the coming weeks could prompt a Leeds move for a midfielder before deadline day, and O’Brien would be a viable candidate.
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