Leeds United have not exploited the January transfer window efficiently in recent years but that may have to change if their present injury situation does not improve.
For last week’s 2-2 away draw at Sunderland, Daniel Farke was missing five of his international players, with two of them—Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu—expected to be sidelined for an extended period of time.
Max Wober, Manor Solomon, Dan James, and others were also missing from the Stadium of Light; the latter has yet to participate in a single league game this season due to injury.
Solomon and James are likely to return against Sheffield United, but the amount of matches each have missed through injury is a problem.
Connor Roberts was the lone player Leeds signed during the January transfer window the previous season, but it already appears like more will be required this time around.
With that in mind, here is one player Leeds should sign and one they should sell when the market reopens.
Harry Wilson is the sign.
Leeds’ inability to sign a number 10 was Farke’s main grievance throughout the summer, despite the fact that Brenden Aaronson has performed well in that position since returning to Elland Road.
Nonetheless, it would be unjust to put the pressure of a 46-game season on him, therefore some competition ought to be introduced.
Harry Wilson, who is having trouble getting into the starting lineup at Fulham, is one player that fits the description of what Leeds needs.
In the Premier League this season, Wilson has only played 36 minutes of football, with his most recent appearance occurring in August.
Leeds’ current set of attacking alternatives truly lack a left-footer who can play both out wide or centrally, which is exactly the type of profile Wilson has.
Given that Joe Rodon, James, and Ampadu are already at the team and that Farke has publicly shown his admiration for Welsh players, Wilson wouldn’t need much convincing to join them.
The 27-year-old possesses an eye for goal from the edge of the box, and takes a mean set-piece, both of which are attributes Leeds’ roster is currently lacking.
His performance at the championship level is also outstanding. In 41 games, Wilson contributed 20 assists and 10 goals during Fulham’s promotion-winning 2021–22 campaign. He is the exact kind of loan signing that Leeds needs to succeed.
Joe Gelhardt Sell
Though Leeds do lack another number 10, if Wilson was to come in, they would also need to trade one out to balance the books.
And playing a comparable position to Wilson, Joe Gelhardt is without a doubt the most sensible player on Leeds’ current roster.
Sadly, given that Gelhardt has only played 43 minutes of Championship football since the third game of the previous season, it appears as though Farke does not trust him.
That is just insufficient at this point in his career, and as a result, during the past year or so, his development has truly stalled.
Gelhardt apparently receives a high salary from Leeds, but it seems like he is reaching a point where he must play frequently, whether it be on loan or permanently.
Gelhardt should be cut if Wilson joins the team as soon as possible because it makes no sense to have him on the roster past January.
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