Leeds United headed into the January transfer window with a clearer sense of purpose, placing renewed emphasis on improving their attacking options as they look to strengthen their Premier League survival push.
The Whites have already taken steps to bolster their forward ranks, securing Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton after he declined a similar move last summer.
The need for further attacking additions has been sharpened by recent tactical tweaks. The switch to a 5-3-2 system has increased the reliance on a dependable goalscorer, while limited depth in advanced areas has further exposed the urgency to add more attacking quality.
However, Leeds are also running the risk of weakening their squad if one or two of their fringe players leave, and the club must make a few big decisions on players such as Sebastiaan Bornauw soon.
Sebastiaan Bornauw wants to leave Leeds United in January
Bornauw has been nothing more than a squad player since joining Leeds last summer. He got a run of games last month when there were a couple of defensive injuries.
However, he has again been a squad player in the last couple of weeks, and it seems he is not happy with his situation at Elland Road.
According to German daily Bild, he would be ready to return to FC Koln, who are keen to sign the defender on loan with an option to buy this month.
The German club have their eyes on the centre-back and are prepared to wait until the end of the transfer window to get their hands on the player.
Koln sporting director Thomas Kessler said, “We still have just under two weeks.
“We’ve already initiated a few things, but there’s always a club involved that might say: I don’t want to let the player go after all. There are always developments where one or the other player ends up getting more playing time.
“We’ve done our homework and are watching very closely.
“And then we’ll see what happens in the next two weeks.”
Leeds would be ready to let the defender go only if they secure a proper replacement for him in the squad.
Leeds must decide soon
Bornauw has been a bit-part player this season. However, he is the only other centre-back in the squad beyond the three first-choice defenders.
James Justin can play in a back-three, but Bornauw’s departure will leave them seriously short of options with several games left in the Premier League this season.
Leeds are focused on bringing in a striker, but they need to decide on the defender’s future as soon as possible.
| Competition | Games | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 6 | 167 |
| FA Cup | 1 | 45 |
| EFL Cup | 1 | 90 |
| Total (All Competitions) | 8 | 302 |
They could either inform the player and his agent that a move in January is out of question, in no uncertain terms or bring in his replacement as soon as possible in the coming days.
Leeds cannot afford for the player to push for a transfer late in the window while leaving no time for them to bring in another centre-back.
