Daniel Farke hints at Leeds United area of interest for final transfer business as deals near completion — YEP 29/8/24
By Graham Smyth
Dainiel Farke has provided the latest news on the Leeds
United transfers front.
Daniel Farke is tight-lipped on Leeds United's imminent
transfer business but has hinted they could yet further strengthen his
attacking options.
The Whites are closing in on deals for Ao Tanaka from
Fortuna Dusseldorf and versatile FC St Gallen full-back Isaac Schmidt, ahead of
Friday night's deadline.
Tanaka flew to England on Thursday morning and is due for
medical tests as a deal in the region of £3.3m nears completion. Talks have
been progressing for Schmidt to make the move to Elland Road from the Swiss
Super League.
And Leeds are hopeful of adding another by the time the
window closes. Farke suggests they're still looking at the offensive areas for
that signing, but refused to comment on ongoing deals.
"I just speak about players who are under contract for
us," he said. "As long as players are under contract with other
clubs, I never speak about players from other clubs. We have confirmed two
important signings with Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon. We've made clear
what position we need to strengthen. There's not much time yet, I hope and
expect there will be some business.
“I spoke quite extensively that we definitely need a
midfield player and also a full-back addition and to stay awake in the offensve
positions. But everything is done when it's confirmed, medicals are done and
everything signed. I never speak about a player as long as he's not under our
contract."
In terms of outgoings, Farke can offer no guarantees but has
no expectation that anyone will leave. The only real question mark at present
hangs over Joe Gelhardt, for whom an exit would make sense given the signings
made in his positions this summer.
But should Leeds not get another attacking option through
the door before deadline they could be keen to keep the youngster for strength
in depth. Farke said: "In this business you never know but we're not
tempted at all to give any of our quality players away. Our numbers, we have a
pretty small group and we're not big in numbers. We're more looking to
strengthen than weaken. I don't expect someone to go."
The summer has not been as madcap as its 2023 predecessor
but Farke admits it has not gone exactly as he would have anticipated due to
the exit-clause-related departures. All three of Archie Gray, Crysencio
Summerville and Georginio Rutter made Premier League moves after their clauses
were activated, netting Leeds around £108m in transfer fees but costing them a
trio of key stars.
"Not as difficult as last season but a bit more
difficult than expected," said Farke. "Some key figures of our
successful team who won 90 points are not here anymore. We're a bit in a
process to rebuild. It was perhaps easier because we didn't have that many loan
clauses and exit clauses but if you lose many key players it's still a process
of rebuilding.
“It was a bit more difficult than we were hoping due to
several exit clauses being triggered. No one was really tempted to let Archie,
Cree or Georginio Rutter go. It was a bit more fluctuation than we would wish.