Leeds United are now expected to make signings in defence before the deadline because the developments which have reduced numbers were never planned, says Phil Hay.
Speaking on the Square Ball on 15 January the Athletic journalist said that even a fortnight ago it would have been expected that both Djed Spence, whose loan was terminated and is now on loan at Genoa from Tottenham, and Luke Ayling, who has joined Middlesbrough on a loan which will see out his Elland Road contract, stayed this month.
To Hay that has made right-back a priority on the same level as left-back in the current window, while the emergence of a breakdown between Daniel Farke and Charlie Cresswell, which he expects to see the defender also leave, means a new centre-back signing is also likely.
Hay said of new arrivals (22m): “I’ll be really surprised if they don’t, and given the situation that Cresswell’s in I see no alternative but to find another centre-back, or to find, whether it’s a full-back that can play at centre-back, something that covers that gap…
“Farke is adamant on having four centre-backs in the squad so if Cresswell isn’t involved that leaves room for another one, and at right-back it was never the plan this month for both Spence and Ayling to go.
“In fact a couple of weeks ago you would have assumed both would have stayed, but circumstances have dictated that and, in a way, you almost feel that right-back has become as important as left-back because of what’s happened in the past fornight.
“But it seems fairly obvious to me where the main focus needs to be, and while I can certainly see scope and merit in looking in the attacking midfield area, another 10, the most prudent thing to do, if Leeds are to do anything, is to strengthen at the back.”
Long-awaited
It doesn’t seem especially sensible to dispense with your current options before you have replacements lined up in the notoriously-tricky January window.
The summer is one thing when there are multiple months to rebuild but after coming into the midseason market looking like one left-back might be all Leeds United needed to strengthen an already-impressive squad the picture has changed for the worse.
It is Farke’s choice to decide whether Spence’s presence was ultimately more of a negative than a positive, and Ayling had earned the right to move after years of service if he wasn’t getting a game, but the stand-off with Cresswell seems slightly harsh, and certainly unnecessary for both parties.
Injuries at the back have reduced the manager’s options further and he is already counting multiple players who are filling in out of position as part of his defensive rotation so the situation is far from comfortable.
Archie Gray and Jamie Shackleton are midfielders moonlighting as full-backs, Sam Byram is a right-back who has been a regular on the left, and while Ethan Ampadu is more than comfortable as a centre-back he has already proven to be a stand-out in midfield.
It isn’t simple to add players midseason when you are scrambling but Farke will have to hope that suitable characters can be sourced in time with half the window already gone.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have already ruled out one option despite holding talks over a deal this month.
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