Leeds United’s January transfer plans will probably look very different by the time the window actually opens.
There is still a long way to go, with plenty of games left to show where Daniel Farke’s squad is short and where reinforcements might be needed.
But that doesn’t mean Leeds’ recruitment team should be waiting until December to start looking.
The club will already have a long list of players under consideration, and the next few months will be about narrowing it down and seeing which situations could become realistic in January.
A few players in particular are worth watching.
Emiliano Buendia
Leeds could certainly use another player who can make things happen in the final third, and Emiliano Buendia would bring a different dimension to the squad.
The Argentine has already shown in the Premier League that he can operate between the lines, create chances, and find pockets of space when opponents sit deep.
He can play centrally or from a wider position, giving Farke another option when he wants to change his attack’s shape.
The interesting part is what happens at Aston Villa, who spent £33m on him, over the next couple of months.
If Buendia struggles to establish himself as a regular, Leeds should at least be keeping tabs on the situation. A January move would be far from straightforward, but it could become an opportunity worth exploring if the circumstances change.
Daniel Farke managed him at Norwich City and has been keen to take him to Elland Road for a while.
Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz is another player who could become an interesting option if Leeds decide they need more attacking quality in midfield.
The Argentine has already played in the Premier League and spent time at Juventus, despite being only 23.
That experience is useful, but his versatility may be even more appealing to Leeds.
Alcaraz can play as an attacking midfielder or move further forward, meaning he wouldn’t necessarily have to be shoehorned into one position.
If he becomes an important part of Everton’s plans, this probably goes nowhere. But if his role becomes less certain as the season progresses, Leeds would be entitled to take a look.
Rico Henry
This one would depend much more on how Leeds’ own squad develops over the first half of the season.
Rico Henry has been a reliable Premier League performer for Brentford for several years and remains one of the more attack-minded full-backs in the division.
His ability to provide width and contribute going forward makes him an interesting addition to a scouting list, particularly if Leeds decide they need more competition or flexibility on the left.
Leeds don’t need to rush out and sign another left-back.
But January is often about taking advantage of opportunities that weren’t obvious six months earlier, and Henry is certainly someone worth monitoring if his situation at Brentford changes.
Yasin Ayari
Yasin Ayari is perhaps the most intriguing long-term option of the four.
The Brighton midfielder is still just 22 and has the technical ability that could make him an attractive option for Leeds’ recruitment team.
He can play in midfield or further forward, and his age means plenty of room for development.
This would not necessarily be the sort of signing that transforms Leeds overnight.
It would be more about identifying a player before he becomes established and potentially much harder to acquire.
If Ayari isn’t playing regularly at Brighton by January, Leeds should already know enough about him to decide whether he is worth pursuing.
January plans are not set in stone yet
The important thing for Leeds is that they don’t have to make those decisions yet.
The first few months of the season will tell Farke and the recruitment team far more about what this squad needs than any prediction made in September.
That’s exactly why these are players worth watching now.
By January, Leeds should know which positions need strengthening and which opportunities are genuinely worth pursuing. The groundwork for those decisions should already be underway.
Emiliano Buendia, no is too old for us to make a profit on him now. Yasin Ayari would be excellent but Brighton are about to trigger his 12 month extension and his contract discussions are going well. Neither of the other two would switch their current sides for Leeds I don’t think.