Leeds United will restart their Championship campaign with a gap in their midfield. With Ethan Ampadu and Ilai Gruev out due to injuries, Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell remain the only options in the middle of the park.
The Whites are only one injury away from relying on their reserves for a starting spot. This might not be the best time for experimentation as Daniel Farke’s men are fighting off a tough battle to finish in the top two by the end of the season.
Standing fifth at the moment, The 49ers will be hoping to level second placers Sheffield United. Ironically, Leeds take on The Blades at home today as Farke and Co. will expect to inch closer to promotion.
The German gaffer isn’t optimistic about keeping the midfield without backup. Although he is not the man who makes signings midway through the season, an injury crisis has forced Farke to look for reinforcements in the free agents market.
Senegalese midfielder Chiekhou Kouyaté was very close to playing at Elland Road this season but failed medicals has put down the curtains on the deal.
Former Arsenal star Francis Coquelin has also been linked with The Whites but the latest reports suggest that there is already a German midfielder down at Thorp Arch.
QUIZ: Can you name the Leeds game these 10-goal celebrations are from?
Journalist Graeme Bailey says “he is there” following Christoph Kramer’s links with Leeds United
Christoph Kramer last played for Borussia Mönchengladbach
Reporting to LeedsUnited.News, Graeme Bailey has revealed that the World Cup-winning German midfielder Christoph Kramer is present in Leeds.
Bailey mentioned “he is there” referring to the recent rumours of him trialling at Thorp Arch. However, Farke faces a fitness obstacle with the midfielder as Kramer hasn’t trained in a professional environment for seven months now.
Daniel Farke has previously mentioned that he is looking for a backup as the manager expects Tanaka and Rothwell to step up to the challenge.
They have to accept they are back-up solutions. They should want to help our young players. We need someone who has that right mentality.
This is what we are searching for. Carefully optimistic we will add someone in the next days or weeks. It won’t last more weeks.
-Daniel Farke
Gramer was prioritising staying in Germany and he had also taken up some punditry work following his failure to find a club by the end of the summer transfer window.
However, an opportunity to extend his career might tempt the German to make an exception. His experience is what Farke’s looking for and the midfielder might be willing to take a backup role while mentoring the youngsters.
