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Daniel Farke likely to bank on team spirit than new signings to take Leeds back to the top flight

A win tonight against Norwich City at Elland Road will take Leeds United back to the summit of the Championship table. Daniel Farke and his team are keen to erase the memories of last season’s heartbreak and get automatically promoted to the Premier League at the end of the ongoing campaign. Leeds fans have been clamouring for new signings but Farke has kept his powder dry. A defender could be signed if the assessment of Pascal Struijk’s injury is more serious but in theory, the Leeds manager is not too keen on adding to his squad in the winter window. It has been a source of frustration for Leeds supporters but the German has his ideas and bedding in new signings in the middle of the season is not one of them.

The loan departures of Joe Gelhardt and Charlie Crew have been the only significant transfer business Leeds have conducted so far in the ongoing winter transfer window.

The injury to Struijk could still change Leeds’ plans and Daniel Farke could be forced to try and sign a new centre-back before the transfer window closes tonight.

The Leeds boss has admitted that the club will stay awake for opportunities in the transfer window but his preference is not to try to change the balance and spirit inside his squad

Farke has stuck to his guns and his team are doing well enough on the pitch to suggest that he is right to trust his squad to get the job done at the end of the season and get promoted.

Daniel Farke is not keen to move away from his principles

Leeds have less than two weeks if they want to bring in new signings to add to their squad but they remain calm about the situation at this stage.

The Struijk injury could force them into signing a defender but that would only happen if the assessments suggest that the Dutchman would be out for months, not weeks.

Many fans feel Leeds’ decision to not sign a player in January contributed to the club not getting promoted but that has the benefit of hindsight. 90 points would have got Leeds promoted to the Premier League in any other season except the last one.

Leeds had 51 points from 27 matches at this stage of the season last year but they have five more points this time around and if they again breach the 90-point mark this term, they are almost certain to get promoted.

Farke has legitimate reasons to argue that his squad do not need new signings to get promoted as they are in a better position this year than last.

The Leeds boss places a big emphasis on maintaining harmony inside his squad and is wary of adding a new signing to the set-up in the middle of the season.

A new signing would also need time to settle down and get used to the playing style, which is a luxury Leeds can’t afford in the middle of the campaign.

But are the fans right to feel a bit wary?

Yes, the Leeds fans have every reason to worry. Last season’s heartbreak is still fresh in their memories and no one associated with the club want to go through the emotional upheaval of the playoffs again.

Everyone at Leeds wants automatic promotion and the fans are keen on a few new signings to bolster their chances in the latter half of the season.

Certain areas of their squad could do with some strengthening despite Farke’s bullishness about the quality of the options available at his disposal.

Illan Meslier remains a suspect goalkeeper and the howlers against Hull were a red herring. Any more such performances could put their promotion hopes in jeopardy.

Leeds are by far the top scorers in the league but they do not have a prolific striker in their squad. Joel Piroe with ten goals is the highest goalscorer for the Whites but beyond him, the striker cupboard is bare.

Mateo Joseph has two goals and Patrick Bamford has struggled with injuries and is yet to find the back of the net this season.

Leeds could do with a more consistent goalkeeper and another forward but Farke has decided to trust his squad and judgement. Only time will tell whether the Whites manager’s instincts prove to be right or a gross misjudgement.

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