Leeds United have been relatively busy over the course of the January transfer window. They’ve made swift and decisive moves to strengthen their ranks and they’ll be feeling pretty pleased about the business they have done so far.
In Max Wober and Georginio Rutter, they have two players with plenty of potential and Jesse Marsch certainly has options as Leeds enter the second half of their Premier League campaign. United’s business may not be complete, though, and over the next few days it seems they will be pushing to add to their ranks with another signing.
Leeds will be reluctant to see anyone leave Elland Road on a permanent basis, but they are willing to allow a few players to leave on loan, it seems. So, with that in mind, Leeds Live takes a look at what would be the perfect ending to Leeds’ January window.
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Bag a midfielder
Weston McKennie is the man in the frame and he’s the one Leeds fans are getting excited about given the suggestions the Whites have already agreed personal terms with the American. Fabrizio Romano is reporting the Whites are yet to strike a deal with Juventus for McKennie’s services, but as the deadline approaches that might change.
McKennie is a man that, on the face of it, seems to suit Marsch’s style and the fact that he knows the likes of Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson can only be seen as a positive. McKennie won’t come cheap, of course, and he would represent a significant investment, but his signing would also send a big statement of intent as Leeds aim to push away from the drop zone.
If it’s not McKennie, Leeds do have options and Azzedine Ounahi is one that has been spoken about after his excellent World Cup campaign with Morocco. The Whites let Mateusz Klich go earlier in the month and while they’re not necessarily short of options, a new midfielder would certainly give Marsch a bit more security in the middle of the field.
Harrison stays
Jack Harrison was linked away in the summer and it wasn’t a surprise to see rumours emerge earlier this week of more interest in him. Leicester City were the team said to be keen, with the Foxes looking to give themselves some more attacking options over the remainder of the season.
Leeds are hopeful of tying Harrison down to a new deal in the coming weeks, though, and therefore the notion of allowing the winger to leave is not a favoured one. That is unless the money makes sense, of course.
Leicester have options and Shakhtar Donetsk winger Tete is one on their radar, according to reports, but there’s a chance their reported interest in Harrison could push others into making a move as well. It certainly wouldn’t be a perfect end to the window if the winger was to leave Elland Road.
Youth moves
United have put a lot of energy into youth recruitment in recent seasons and it seems they could make another addition to their Under-21s line-up in the coming days. Servette defender Diogo Monteiro has been strongly linked with a switch to West Yorkshire and he would be eligible to make the move when he turns 18 on January 28.
Reports have suggested a deal is close and if the Portuguese defender was to sign at Elland Road, he would probably slot into the Under-21s side for the remainder of the season at least. There could be one or two more outgoings, too.
Cody Drameh sealed a loan move to Luton Town on Thursday night and Joe Gelhardt is expected to follow him out of the door to link up with Sunderland for the remainder of the season. However, a few more loans could be arranged over the next week and Leeds may well be pushing for some of their brightest young prospects to get first-team opportunities elsewhere.
The likes of Kristoffer Klaesson, Amari Miller, Sean McGurk, Sonny Perkins and Mateo Joseph would benefit from playing senior football at a decent level and that’s something Leeds could be exploring.
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