Leeds United are preparing for their Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday, with one eye on the market ahead of the final weeks of the transfer window.
The Whites have made four signings ahead of the new campaign and are hoping to bring in a few more additions before the transfer window closes on September 1.
Nico Elvedi became Leeds’ latest summer arrival this week, with the 29-year-old centre-back joining from Borussia Mönchengladbach in an £8.5m deal.
Leeds also confirmed the departures of Joel Piroe and Sebastiaan Bornauw this week, but it is now certain one player won’t be leaving Elland Road before the end of the transfer window.
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Daniel Farke indicates £12m star likely to stay at Leeds
Leeds’ interest in Shea Charles earlier in the transfer window led to suggestions that Farke could sacrifice one of his midfielders to sign his preferred target.
Sean Longstaff was seen as one of the players who could be asked to leave if Leeds ended up signing one more midfielder in the ongoing window.
However, Leeds are now unlikely to sign a central midfielder, and Daniel Farke’s praise for Longstaff on Thursday showed the player is not going anywhere
The Whites boss conceded that Longstaff struggled after starting brightly last season and injuries didn’t help as he struggled to get into the starting eleven in the latter half of the campaign.
However, he is delighted to see the midfielder fight back during the summer and the manager has been mightily impressed by his performances during pre-season.
Farke said in his pre-match conference: “Sean has given me joy.
“Excellent at the beginning of last season, then a long-term injury and struggled with other players shining. Surgery at the end of last season.
“Happy he has forced his way back with good performances and being in the mix. He was excellent in pre-season.”
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Sean Longstaff needs a solid start to the season
The former Newcastle midfielder established himself as a first-choice player early last season and looked indispensable before picking up an injury in November.
His absence from the team coincided with Leeds’ upturn in form, and by the time he was fit to play, Farke had settled on other midfielders in the team.
Longstaff rarely started league games during the second half of the campaign and increasingly found himself being used as an option off the bench by the Leeds boss.
He needs to make a strong start to the new season if he is to re-establish himself as a key part of Leeds’ starting XI.
His Premier League experience and know-how make him a top option for Leeds, but the midfielder needs a less disruptive season at Elland Road.
