Despite a contentious January transfer window, Daniel Farke’s Leeds United still has a few players who will be heavily relied upon coming into the promotion push.
Even though the January transfer window is closed and Leeds will have to play with its current roster for the remainder of the campaign, Daniel Farke still has a team capable of producing the calibre of play required for automatic promotion.
Considering that the teams surrounding him are still determined to place in the top two this season, he will have an extremely difficult battle.
Although Leeds’ January transfer window wasn’t the busiest—possibly as Farke had anticipated—it does leave a few players without much insurance, which the Whites cannot afford to have injured.
Here, we examine three players who, as of January, don’t really have any like-for-like coverage.
Dan James
Few people would have predicted Dan James to be as crucial to Leeds’ season as he has been, but with double figures in goals and 17 goal involvements so far, he is proving his value.
On the surface, James’ current absence is something Leeds can fill with players like Willy Gnonto, Jaidon Anthony, or even Ian Poveda because Leeds is loaded with wingers this season.
None of those players, though, can pass the ball down the right channel or be as effective when out of possession as James.
Since James is Leeds’ only reliable, natural right-wing option, it would have been nice to have a competition from his countryman, David Brooks.
Junior Firpo
Again, Junior Firpo is another that has cover on paper behind him in the form of Sam Byram, but both are as injury prone as each other.
What it means is that it’s very hard to rely on either to stay for two or three games a week.
Due in large part to his left foot and greater ability to reach the by-line than Byram, Firpo has demonstrated in 2024 that his form will be crucial as a left-back and that he is a much better fit in possession than the former Norwich player.
Crysencio Summerville has also been freed up as a result, enabling him to link up more frequently in the last third.
Due to Firpo’s injury, Byram returns, and even though he came in for free, he hasn’t been able to stop Firpo from being double-teamed very often.
Patrick Bamford
Leeds has struggled since Marcelo Bielsa took over and Kemar Roofe left because the team lacks a number nine who can link the attack like Patrick Bamford does.
More of a focal point now than the striker he used to be, who would do everything reliably well except when he got close to the penalty area, he has recently altered his style of play.
Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter were the middle-field duo, but despite the Dutchman’s respectable goal total, too many games went by, and Leeds appeared more balanced with Bamford leading the attack.
Nevertheless, Leeds will be depending on Bamford’s dubious injury history to carry them through this crucial stretch of games without losing form.
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