Leeds United could be set to make some transfers when the January transfer window arrives in seven weeks. The club will need all the help they can get if they are to survive this season in the Premier League. Daniel Farke’s team need goals, a prolific striker, someone who can fire them to safety.
A season that started off brightly is now looking gloomy after four defeats in five games. Fans have not been happy with the team’s fortunes these past few weeks. The Whites returned from the last international break with a shocking defeat to Burnley. They have since yet to recover from that, and lost two of their last three games before this current break.
With the January window around the corner, the question remains if Leeds will dip into the market and try address the biggest issue – goals! Sure defensively they have not been great in recent weeks, but Farke’s team have let another of points slip this season through not taking their chances. Main striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has missed four of his five big chances this season – a strike rate that will get the club relegated.
6 strikers Leeds United could sign in January
Teamtalk are now reporting that the Whites could seriously be in search of a new striker in the next few months. Farke has constantly underlined his satisfaction in post-match press-conferences with his team’s ability to dominate the ball and create chances, those stats are unfortunately worthless unless you have someone to put the ball in the net and currently Leeds do not have that.
| Player | Goals scored |
|---|---|
| Noah Okafor | 2 |
| Joe Rodon | 2 |
| Lukas Nmecha | 2 |
| Calver-Lewin and 3 other players | 1 |
Brandon Thomas-Asante
The Championship top scorer this season has been seriously linked with a January move to Elland Road. He has started the season on fire with Frank Lampard’s Coventry City side. Convincing him to leave in the middle of the season will be difficult, but the pull of Premier League football could do the trick.
Daizen Maeda
Sky Sports are reporting that the Japanese international could be on Leeds’ list in January. He was highly sought after, scoring 20 goals in all competitions last season. Maeda failed to move, but could be on the radar in the next month.
Gonzalo Garcia
The Real Madrid star was the talk of the town during the Club World Cup this summer. But he turned down a move away from Spain to try and break into the first team. It has not worked out, playing only seven games this season, and now he could be on the move. Premier League football with Leeds United could be the perfect loan for Garcia.
Josh Sargent
A familiar target for Daniel Farke, the American failed to seal a move to Germany in the summer. He has started this season on a decent note, but Norwich are not in the best of form and he could jump ship. Leeds could get Sargent cheap, but there are question marks over whether he’s an improvement on the club’s current set of forwards.
Haji Wright
Another Coventry City star, the striker has scored eight goals this season. Wright has a decent record over the last two campaigns, scoring 30 goals. He could be very useful if the Whites decide on him in January, with a move to Elland Road mooted by multiple sources.
Ivan Toney
The England striker has been heavily tipped to return to England with the World Cup around the corner. He would of course have a short time to play himself into Thomas Tuchel’s squad, and Leeds have been linked with a move. There would be a huge stumbling block though given he’s on £400,000 per week in Saudi Arabia. Multiple Premier League clubs are interested in Toney, so Leeds seems an unlikely destination for the former Brentford star.
| Statistic | Rank |
|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 19th |
| Expected Goals | 13th |
| Shots | 9th |
| Key Passes | 11th |
A lot of these targets in January will be ambitious moves for Leeds United. This summer, the 49ers failed to make any significant investment into the attack, spending £18 million on Noah Okafor and adding two free agent strikers. The lack of a cutting edge has shown in crucial games this season; Leeds cannot depend on misfiring centre-forwards to save their season.
| Player | Games Played | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Brandon Thomas-Asante | 17 | 10 |
| Daizen Maeda | 14 | 3 |
| Gonzalo Garcia | 9 | 0 |
| Josh Sargent | 16 | 6 |
| Haji Wright | 16 | 9 |
| Ivan Toney | 12 | 9 |
Maybe this current run of form is enough to convince the ownership that they do need investment when the window opens. Calvert-Lewin has not done enough in front of goal, and that has been costing Leeds points this season. The Whites need someone to help turn this season around, preferably one who can find the back of the net on a consistent basis.
