Leeds United, much to the frustration of many supporters, decided to stick rather than twist in the January transfer window.
Despite interest in Cameron Archer and Emi Buendia, plus links with Adam Armstrong, Andrew Omobamidele and a number of other players with prior Championship success on their CVs, Leeds opted to keep the faith with Daniel Farke’s current arrangement.
With five wins and one draw from six matches since the window closed, so far that looks like a good decision.
Farke prefers to work with a smaller squad at Elland Road. As such, the former Norwich City boss could not see the reason to bring in a player – especially one on loan from a Premier League outfit – before relegating him to the bench.
Should Leeds United secure promotion at the second time of asking, then, the current league-leaders will go into the summer having saved those winter funds for a sunnier day.
An absence of January spending, plus the riches of the Premier League, means Farke should be rewarded with the luxury of splashing considerable handfuls of cash. Provided, of course, that Leeds avoid a repeat of last year’s play-off heartbreak.
Samir Arabi, meanwhile, could yet be the man tasked with overseeing the construction of a squad capable of surviving the top flight.
According to Sky Sports Germany, 46-year-old Samir Arabi is a candidate to become Leeds’ new sporting director.
With Angus Kinnear expected to leave Elland Road for Everton, the CEO’s departure will create a sizeable hole behind the scenes. One Arabi, who worked as a director at Arminia Bielefeld from 2016 to 2023, could fill.
On his watch, Arminia secured a return to the Bundesliga in 2020 after over a decade away. They would punch above their weight in that first season back before succumbing to relegation in the second. Yet, Arabi’s reputation grew thanks in part to some impressive work in the transfer market.
Stefan Ortega blossomed in the Bundesliga before earning a move to Manchester City. France international Jonathan Clauss would spend two years at Arminia as well before making his name as one of Europe’s finest right-backs with Lens.
Daniel Farke has made no secret of his desire for Leeds to sign a new attacking midfielder, meanwhile, and that was before Brenden Aaronson found himself on a run of one goal contribution in eleven games.
Amid interest in Edouard Spertsyan, Alvyn Sanches and the aforementioned Buendia, could Arabi’s contact book open up Leeds to a pair of exciting forwards who passed through Arminia’s Bielefelder Alm stadium?
Wolfsburg’s Patrick Wimmer could be excellent Leeds signing
Robin Hack is the first.
Now of Borussia Monchengladbach, the jet-heeled Hack will fall short of matching last season’s career-best tally of 13 goals but the former Germany Under-21 attacker remains just as integral with his explosive acceleration and darting runs off the ball.
However, as Hack is more familiar with a left-wing role, Patrick Wimmer is the former Arminia favourite who feels best suited to a Leeds United side in need of another number ten.
Snapped up for a nominal fee from Austria Vienna, this blonde bombshell of a playmaker earned Arminia a sizeable profit when departing for Wolfsburg in 2023. A jaw-dropping rabona assist in a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt – one of eight the now-23-year-old provided that season – was Wimmer’s coming of age moment in Germany’s top flight.
Leeds like Lausanne Sport schemer Alyvn Sanches because he can play all across the attack. The same can be said of the highly-versatile Wimmer, allegedly valued at a bargain £10 million.
He scored both goals as Wolfsburg beat Werder Bremen last weekend, including a rocket from 25 yards.
It is not just his eye for the spectacular that should intrigue Leeds, however, but also Wimmer’s fierce work ethic in the high press. Something Farke demands from all his forwards.
“He is incredibly dynamic and always difficult to defend against,” Wolfsburg’s former Southampton coach Ralph Hasenhuttl said. “He wins a lot of balls and his pace creates dangerous counter-attacks.
“He can’t sit back. He must continue to develop. He has a great future.”
A future which, should Samir Arabi step into Kinnear’s shoes at Leeds United, could lead him to a new life in West Yorkshire.
“With Patrick, we have gained a young player who, despite his age, already has plenty of experience,” Arabi said back in 2021, Wimmer now four years older and four years wiser.
“Patrick convinced us with his flexibility in attacking midfield.”
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