Category: Leeds United

 

Leeds United could be about to bring back an £11m attacking player to Elland Road, according to one journalist.

 

Leeds remain patient in January transfer window

The Whites are top of the Championship and on course to win promotion to the Premier League at the second time of asking under Daniel Farke.

 

However, despite leading the way in the second tier, it is turning into a four-horse promotion battle alongside Sheffield United, Burnley and Sunderland, all of which have bolstered their squads with new signings.

 

The end for Wilfried Gnonto: Leeds plotting late move for “huge talent”

Leeds are yet to make a 2025 addition, although Farke previously admitted that a centre-back, attacking midfielder and centre-forward are positions Leeds could still strengthen in, saying: “There are still a few positions we could have a deeper look at if they can improve the squad. But right now, I’m a little bit more calmer with not being in panic mode with the need to have to do something.

 

“I think it’s fair to say if there is a creative offensive player out there, like a number 10 position, then it is something that could be beneficial for our group.

 

“Brenden Aaronson has been excellent this season and a key player for us. But we might have a similar player like him in our group. Of course we have players who can play in this role.

 

“If there is a solution for a creative midfield player it definitely make sense to stay awake. In all the other areas we are covered. The only two [positions] we have to stay awake in my head is the centre-back position… and perhaps a bit in the striker position.”

 

 

In recent days, Leeds have taken Liverpool youngster Oakley Cannonier on trial at Thorp Arch, and there have also been links to Newcastle United full-back Matt Targett.

 

It could go down to the wire in regards to if a new signing is secured by the 49er Enterprises, but a familiar face could well return to Yorkshire, going off a new update.

 

Jack Harrison could make Leeds return

Sharing a Leeds transfer update for The Daily Mail, relayed by Caught Offside, journalist Ian Herbert said that Leeds want a striker, left-back centre-back, central midfielder and winger.

 

That winger could well be Jack Harrison, currently on loan at Everton, with Herbert stating the 28-year-old “may be the one heading to Leeds”.

 

“They [Leeds] badly want a striker – [draw against Burnley] revealed why – and also seek a left-back, centre-back, central midfielder and winger.

 

“If they had to put it all on one, it would be a striker, but PSR means they could end up with none. Aston Villa’s Emi Buendia didn’t want to go to Leeds, preferring Bayer Leverkusen on loan. Brighton’s Julio Enciso preferred a loan move to Ipswich.

 

“Jack Harrison, shot on confidence after a torrid period on loan at Everton, may be the one heading to Leeds.”

 

Jack Harrison for Everton

Things haven’t gone to plan for Harrison during his second season on loan at Everton, failing to score or provide an assist in 21 games in all competitions.

 

Harrison, who cost Leeds £11m from Manchester City, has also been an unused substitute under new Everton boss David Moyes for the last two wins against Tottenham and Brighton, so a return to Elland Road could make sense for all involved.

 

Jack Harrison’s career

 

Middlesbrough

Granted, Leeds ideally could do with a central attacker to rival Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph or a number 10 to challenge Brenden Aaronson, but a fresh returning face in Harrison may have to do for the second half of the season.

 

It takes two to tango. Farke could have gone with a more offensive line-up. He could have brought in Junior Firpo for Sam Byram and kept forward-thinking Joe Rothwell in the midfield rather than defensive specialist Ilia Gruev.

Leeds were untidy in the final third and definitely played safe at times, so the monotony that played out was a crime of joint enterprise but even that one, late Daniel James shot that finally forced Trafford into action presented an argument that Parker was the ringleader and most culpable for the Championship’s big game being such a big disappointment.

 

How do Burnley fans get to sleep at night? They watch Burnley. Speak to Turf Moor regulars and they will tell you that the atmosphere is largely flat and the lack of goals and chances make for a hard watch. Leeds fans have, justifiably, complained about the entertainment factor at times this season but Elland Road has seen twice as many home league wins as Turf Moor. The Whites have scored 35 at home compared with Burnley’s 15.

 

The problem is that Parker’s football works. It strangles a game so completely that opposition sides simply cannot score goals. And then even when they do get gilt-edged chances, like Sunderland did with a pair of spot-kicks, Trafford is there with heroics.

There is, with all due respect, a lot of dross in the division and Parker knows that if Burnley don’t nick a win at home then they’ll draw because they so effectively shut down opposition offences. Who can really complain about being unbeaten at home, third in the table and just three points off the top at this stage?

 

 

 

The other problem is that football has been allowed to become so results-focused and promotion from the Championship has become so financially significant that an entire season and a year in the life of a supporter can now be explained away under the phrase ‘getting the job done.’ It’s a very transactional thing. Strictly business. Get the points, get out of the league.

Function over fun. It’s not Parker or Farke’s fault that a relegated club faces a race against time to scramble back up the ladder before the parachute payments run out.

It’s not their fault that managers are judged so brutally and almost entirely on results. Taking risks in possession might give the rest of us a bit of a thrill, but when it’s their livelihood hanging in the balance and when you can play safe and still sit up near the top then can anyone be blamed for setting up to be solid?

 

That’s what Parker did, as expected with his Burnley team. Farke did too but at least Leeds had a little go. After a nervy couple of minutes in which Ethan Ampadu was uncharacteristically wayward with passes to the wings, Leeds began to look the more dangerous. Or maybe the more willing to attack. Jayden Bogle was one of few players on the pitch with a bit of urgency and adventure about him and he was at the heart of anything promising the visitors offered up.

 

Burnley’s best and only real moment came when ex-Leeds men Connor Roberts and Jaidon Anthony linked up so the latter could cross, with Zian Flemming heading wide.

 

 

 

The game settled into a bit of a pattern. Leeds had more of the ball but did little with it. Burnley mustered a few crosses. A minute of additional time at the end of the first half was more of a cruelty to the paying public than an opportunity for either side to give them something worth watching.

 

Farke said prior to the game that he prefers being top and being chased to having to do the chasing. The second half said that Burnley were content to sit back and do precisely no chasing.

Leeds were in control and giving an impression, if nothing else, that they wanted to win it. They just didn’t go gung-ho, because that was not and is never really Farke’s plan. The Clarets did eventually give Illan Meslier something to do in the 68th minute but his smart leg save from Anthony’s drilled effort didn’t count because the attacker had nudged last man Joe Rodon to concede a free-kick.

 

Leeds registered a shot that did actually count in the 88th minute and it very nearly pinched the points. Gruev’s corner came all the way through to James and he uncorked a beautifully-struck half volley that Trafford did well to palm over.

 

Farke was happy with a point. Parker was happy with a point. The Leeds fans gave their side a rousing ovation at full-time, suggesting they too were happy with a point.

A Burnley fan near the press box exploded with rage at the sight of it. “Think you’ve ****ing won something?” he spat in the direction of the travelling fans on the far side of the ground. No one won anything, there were no winners here. And that gentleman, like his fellow Clarets, has been sentenced to watch more of this from now until the end of the season.

Leeds might not find themselves in many genuine thrillers but you would at least back them to score more goals than Burnley. Both sides will be right there in the promotion picture come May and perhaps both will celebrate the great escape back to the Premier League. And no one will feel the least bit guilty about how they got there because the job got done.