It makes sense for Leeds United to loan out these 3 players in January

In the January transfer window, Leeds United should think about loaning out three of the players we examined.

•  Key takeaways:
•  Leeds United should consider loaning out three players – Darko Gyabi, Lewis Bate, and Leo Hjelde – in order to give them more game time and aid their development.
•  Gyabi, a talented midfielder signed from Manchester City, has had limited playing time and is unlikely to feature regularly due to competition in midfield.
•  Bate, another midfielder, had a successful loan spell at Oxford United last season but has struggled to break into the Leeds first team, making only one substitute appearance this season. A loan move could benefit him.
•  Hjelde, a defender signed from Celtic, has made just eight appearances and is unlikely to get much game time with the return of injured players. A loan move would be beneficial for his development.

Leeds United has had a successful re-entry into the Championship.

The Whites, who were relegated from the Premier League last season after a terribly disappointing campaign, are among the favorites for promotion in the second division as they aim to return to the top level right away.

Although they are 11 points behind league-leading Leicester City and nine points behind second-placed Ipswich Town as they enter the international break, Daniel Farke’s team has been gaining a lot of ground lately.

Despite having one of the strongest teams in the Championship because to the additions of players like Ethan Ampadu, Joel Piroe, Glen Kamara, and Joe Rodon this summer, a number of Elland Road’s players have had difficulty getting into games this year.

In light of this, we examined three players who the Whites ought to think about loaning away in January.

Darko Gyabi

Gyabi, a midfielder who cost £5 million to sign with Leeds from Manchester City last summer, has played little since moving to West Yorkshire.

Gyabi has only played in two games this season across all leagues, and he hasn’t been a member of the matchday squad since early September.

This summer, Swansea City and Fleetwood Town were interested in taking Gyabi on a loan, while French club Valenciennes had two offers for the 19-year-old rejected, with the second one reportedly worth £5 million.

Gyabi has a lot of potential, as evidenced by the fact that he was once a member of the Premier League champions, but it is difficult to see him playing frequently in the coming season due to competition from players like Ampadu, Kamara, Jamie Shackleton, Archie Gray, and Ilia Gruev in midfield.

Leeds should approve Gyabi’s loan exit in January after they apparently agreed to do so this summer.

Lewis Bate

Similar to Gyabi, Bate is a midfielder who might be on the verge of a short-term departure in the January transfer window.

Bate moved from Chelsea to Elland Road in July 2021 for a sum of £1.5 million with add-ons and a sell-on clause. Although he was initially recruited for the Under-23 team, he made three senior appearances in his debut season with the club.

The 20-year-old spent the previous season on loan with Oxford United, making 35 appearances across all competitions and contributing four assists as the U’s narrowly avoided being relegated from League One.

Bate returned to Elland Road this summer, but hasn’t been able to push his way into the lineup, appearing only as a substitute once this year in the EFL Cup.

This summer, Fleetwood was also mentioned as a potential destination for Bate. While it is unknown whether the Cod Army will renew their interest in January after Lee Johnson took over as manager for Scott Brown, it appears likely that Bate will be going on.

Leo Hjelde

Defender Hjelde joined Leeds from Celtic in August 2021, but he has made just eight appearances for the club so far.

Hjelde spent the second half of last season on loan at Rotherham United, making 13 appearances to help the Millers secure Championship survival.

The 20-year-old started for the Whites against Cardiff City on the opening day of the season, but after being substituted at half time, he has not featured in the league since, although he has made two appearances in the EFL Cup.

With Sam Byram excelling at left-back, and Junior Firpo set to return from injury, Hjelde’s game time is likely to remain restricted, so another loan move would be beneficial for his development.