Leeds United already know their three January transfer window decisions — YEP 3/9/25
By Kyle Newbould
Daniel Farke has four months to keep his Leeds United side
competitive before the transfer window re-opens.
Only time will tell if Leeds United did enough over the
summer to ensure Premier League survival but one thing is for sure - they
wanted to do more.
Four points from three games - two against Champions League
opposition - presents a competitive start and that is exactly what Leeds have
been: competitive. Daniel Farke reiterated the need for attacking quality on
multiple occasions, however, and his wish was not granted come 7pm on Monday.
Such is the nature of football that already, attention is
being focused on January and the business Leeds must do, regardless of the
position they find themselves in as 2026 draws closer. Below, the YEP takes a
look at three key decisions they need to take when the window re-opens.
Attacking quality the priority once again
Farke admitted after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle
United it would be ‘difficult’ to survive if attacking additions were not
forthcoming, and indeed nothing came through. The positives? Leeds have given
as good as they’ve got during two of their three Premier League games and been
rewarded with a steady four points.
Between now and January, that seems likely to be the aim of
the game. Stay in matches, keep it solid at the back, see if you can turn one
point into three as it opens up. Leeds must be hard to beat for the next four
months and go from there, with the January priority being to add quality that
should have come through the door this summer.
Exactly where that quality is needed will depend on how the
current crop performs between now and January. Focus towards the end of summer
was on a right-winger who can drift centrally but if, for example, Willy Gnonto
and Jayden Bogle form an exciting partnership and Okafor struggles for fitness,
that may need to change. But Leeds must revisit those attacking positions as
soon as possible.
Exploit the Premier League loan market
49ers Enterprises have shown a willingness to use the loan
market since taking control of Leeds but going into the 2025/26 Premier League
season, have no temporary additions. They tried to take Facundo Buonanotte on
board from Brighton for a year before Chelsea swooped in, but throughout summer
such deals rarely emerged as a distinct possibility.
Leeds can take a maximum of two players on loan from their
Premier League rivals at any given point and will surely explore that option
come January, particularly if money is tight. Everton have shown how important
such additions can be, with Jack Grealish sparking their attack into life since
joining from Manchester City for the campaign.
Come January there will emerge a pool of Premier League
players who find themselves on the fringes of first-team football, perhaps as
part of a squad eliminated from European competition and therefore
unnecessarily bloated. Leeds have the scope to pick from that pool and should
at the very least explore those options.
A new home for Illan Meslier
Leeds’ first-choice goalkeeper for the past five years was
expected to leave this summer but as of September 2, remains on the books.
Illan Meslier was omitted from pre-season once Lucas Perri’s arrival from Lyon
was official and his presence at fixtures so far this campaign has been as a
spectator.
Interest in Meslier was there, namely from former club FC
Lorient, but a move away never materialised and so the 25-year-old looks set to
stay in West Yorkshire for at least another four months. Whether Farke decides
to use him, should Perri pick up an injury or suspension, remains to be seen
but the matter needs to be revisited in January.
Meslier should be coming into the prime of his career and
might still harbour hope of an international call-up, should he rediscover the
form he enjoyed under Marcelo Bielsa. But that form feels unlikely to come in
Leeds and a mid-season transfer at the right price would surely benefit
everyone.
