Leeds United players left in limbo following brutal Farke calls and summer difficulties - Leeds Live 9/9/23
Daniel Farke's pecking order looks set after a challenging summer and it's fair to say four players find themselves in a tricky spot
The transfer window has shut and Daniel Farke knows the
shape of the Leeds United squad he will be working with for the first half of
the season at least. The Whites managed to add nine players to their group,
while several players left the club either on loan or on a permanent basis.
However, it’s fair to say a number of players remain in
limbo after failing to secure regular spots within Farke’s plans over the last
couple of months. With chances and senior minutes set to be few and far
between, they might find themselves dropping down to Michael Skubala’s U21s set
up on a regular basis between now and January, when they’ll next have the
opportunity to pursue other options.
Here’s a look at the four players who find themselves in an
uncertain spot following the closure of the transfer window.
Darko Gyabi
After watching him tear up the Premier League 2 last time
around with United’s U21s, supporters were keen to see Gyabi given the chance
to prove himself at a senior level this season. The midfielder looks to have
all the attributes needed to take the next step into men’s football and, at the
start of pre-season, he looked capable of securing a place within Farke’s
plans.
However, he has struggled to take the opportunities he has
been given so far this season, with his only start, against Shrewsbury,
resulting in him being hooked at half-time after a difficult showing. The
arrivals of both Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara ensure further opportunities down
the line will almost certainly be hard to come by, too.
Gyabi did have interest on deadline day with both Swansea
City and Fleetwood Town showing interest in late loans, but a deal could not be
brokered and now it seems relatively clear that England U20 international will
have to drop down to the U21s to pick up the game time he craves.
Leo Hjelde
Hjelde is another who has struggled to make the most of the
chances that have fallen his way. The Norwegian was given the opportunity to
begin the season as the club’s starting left-back, but a tough first half
against Cardiff City saw him replaced at the break by Sam Byram.
He met the same fate a few days later after starting against
Shrewsbury and he has struggled for minutes ever since, dropping out of
contention for a starting spot. He did pick up 90 minutes against Salford in
the Cup, but once again he flattered to deceive, leaving him in a tricky spot
with both Byram and Junior Firpo due to return to full fitness in the
not-too-distant future.
Hjelde has shown that he can cut it in the Championship,
having caught the eye with Rotherham United last time around and he needs
senior minutes to continue his development, but he might struggle for them over
the next few months.
Kristoffer Klaesson
Klaesson began pre-season with the intention of trying to
secure more minutes this season, but with Illan Meslier and Karl Darlow firmly
ahead of him in the pecking order, meeting that target looks unlikely. The
Norwegian failed to secure a minute of first-team action last time around and
as the club’s third-choice goalkeeper, it’s hard to envisage any opportunities
coming for him down the line.
As such, Klaesson ought to be one player pushing for a loan
as soon as the shutters come up on the winter transfer window. He’ll be 23 by
the time the new year rolls around and it’s fair to say one senior outing in
three seasons is not exactly conducive when it comes to development.
Lewis Bate
Like the three other players on this list, it’s hard to see
Bate securing any sort of real game time between now and the beginning of the
January transfer window. The midfielder spent last season on loan at Oxford
United, picking up valuable game time and progressing nicely, but he finds
himself comfortably down the pecking order at Elland Road under Farke.
With his contract set to expire at the end of the season,
it’s a fair assumption to make that Leeds will be looking for a permanent move
for Bate in January and to avoid losing him for nothing in the summer. In the
meantime, though, the 20-year-old might find himself playing youth football
once more in order to keep himself ticking over.