Less than one week of the transfer window remains for Leeds United and there are still some loan decisions to make at Elland Road. While permanent deals will always catch the eye and have the biggest impact on the squad, there is temporary business to attend to with a long-term effect on the club.
Joe Gelhardt’s switch is still rattling along. While Wigan Athletic were confident of sealing the loan move at the back end of last week, Sunderland’s late push to get him involved in a play-off run has put the cat among the pigeons.
Naturally, all parties are taking as much time as they need with a big decision for a player who hopes to have a bright future at Elland Road. The Latics can offer him familiarity, while the Black Cats may well give him a taste of what a promotion chase feels like.
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Tony Mowbray’s reputation with developing young players has also been seen as a huge shot in the arm if the Liverpudlian were to head up the A1. The small matter of Sam Greenwood living nearby is also bound to have an impact on Gelhardt’s decision.
Cody Drameh is the other promising talent likely to move away before the end of the month. After choosing to stick around for the first half of this season and fight for a place with Luke Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen, it has not mapped out how Drameh wanted.
Despite all of the praise from Jesse Marsch about his attitude, impact in training and need to play matches, minutes have not materialised and the 21-year-old needs to play senior football. One look at the season-defining four months Drameh had at Cardiff City in the Championship last season sums up the impact he could be having somewhere.
The full-back will not be short of suitors, especially in the second tier. Drameh’s contract expires in June 2024, so real thought will have to be given to what happens next at the end of this season.
Time is rapidly running out for any prospect of another move for Charlie Cresswell this season. The centre-back is in and around Millwall’s matchday squads in the Championship, but some thought had been given to considering a permanent exit in this window.
However, the deadline for cancelling his Millwall loan has long since passed and it seems increasingly likely he will see out the rest of the campaign at The Den. Jamie Shackleton seems set to continue with Gary Rowett’s side too.
Tyler Roberts and Ian Poveda had been heading for January recalls based on their limited match time at Queens Park Rangers and Blackpool respectively, but both have turned the corner in recent weeks. Roberts has started the last four league games on the bounce for QPR and even scored a neat brace at Reading this month.
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