Three players added to Leeds United's Germany squad as transfer panic acknowledged — Leeds Live 20/7/24

Leeds United will see Patrick Bamford, Brenden Aaronson and Max Wober added to the group which beat Harrogate Town in a pre-season friendly on Friday night after Daniel Farke faced the media

Three players will swiftly reinforce the Leeds United squad that beat Harrogate Town last night. Patrick Bamford, Brenden Aaronson and Max Wober are all expected to join the squad on their imminent training camp in Germany, despite missing Friday’s pre-season win.

Daniel Farke’s side defeated their League Two opponents 3-0 in their first public friendly of the summer, but it was a squad that included five youngsters without senior experience. Bamford is still working his way back from the injury that ended his season prematurely, while Aaronson’s and Wober’s summers have been delayed by their international commitments.

“We also need them in the next weeks, there's no doubt about this,” said Farke. “Patrick had the little surgery after his injury at the end of last season and was doing lots of individual rehab work.

“He’s part-integrated back in team training during this week and this game just came too early. He will definitely travel with us to Germany and he will hopefully be able to handle the main load in the training sessions.

“We will see if we can involve him in one of the two games. My gut feeling is perhaps he's just ready for the final friendly, but we'll see. It will be great to have him for a few minutes at least in one of the two games.

“Brenden arrived yesterday after a long flight and he arrived even three days earlier than he should have arrived. You could feel he’s desperate to be back and back on the pitch and to work, but I wanted him to have at least two-and-a-half weeks of holiday after he was involved in the tournament.

“He had an individual session already today, his first session. He will be together with the team tomorrow for the first time, he will fly with us to Germany.

“It's also great to have him back because he came back in good shape and he's also highly motivated. So good to have him back.

“Max will arrive tomorrow. We'll start with some testing and then hopefully also from Sunday [he will be] with us with the first team on the pitch. It was important to have these lads back.”

It was clear from an early point in the summer Aaronson would return to Leeds next season and fight for minutes at Elland Road. However, until last night, Wober’s future has remained up in the air after his acrimonious loan exit 12 months ago.

Barring a dramatic turn of events, Liam Cooper’s time at Elland Road appears to be over, so a left-footed defender would not go amiss in the current squad. A lack of depth in the full-back positions also means Wober would tick another box at left-back.

Transfers are not something Farke would be drawn on, but he understands some supporters will panic when they see 15 senior departures since Wembley, set against three arrivals. Archie Gray and Glen Kamara were the only two to have played a meaningful part in last season, but the manager trusts in his recruitment department.

“As long as a player has not signed for us and is not my player, I don't comment on any rumours or speculations because I totally respect players, at the moment, are not our players and we will just speak about the players who are here,” he said. “Also, especially with our club, after a few outgoings, a few contracts were running out and Archie, there was his transfer, and Glen Kamara, everyone is panicking a little bit.

“That's quite normal, but we are on a good path and I totally trust our key people. We can also support this team even a bit more.

“First of all, we have the guys right now back with Brenden Aaronson and Max Wober. This will be beneficial for us and there are still a few areas where we can and need to improve.

“We all know this, but we are in good talks and, yes, it would have all been easier if we had managed to win the final and be in the Premier League. From the financial topics, we could be perhaps a bit more proactive in the market.

“This was also one of the disappointments and after we lost the final we knew there were financial necessities and we have to be even a bit more patient until we have the group together, but overall we are in a good path.”

19/7/24 17:17