"Bamford may be someone we move on" - Leeds United prediction made ahead of January | OneFootball

FLW's Leeds United fan pundit has made two January transfer window predictions for the club

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Leeds United are in the mix for promotion to the Premier League again this season, but the January transfer window looks set to be important once more. Midfielders are sure to be on the agenda, whilst fringe strikers like Joe Gelhardt and Patrick Bamford will have their situations assessed.

Daniel Farke’s side narrowly missed out on an immediate return to the top flight in the previous campaign, but have set aside that disappointment to make a strong start to this term.

The Whites will be aiming for a top two finish, with Daniel Farke previously achieving this twice in his career, both times when he was at Norwich City.

The January transfer window could prove crucial to determining Leeds’ league position this season.

The winter market offers them a chance to strengthen their squad for the second half of the campaign, amid stiff competition from the likes of Sunderland, Burnley, West Brom and Sheffield United.

Leeds United January transfer predictions

When asked to predict two things for the club’s January plans, FLW’s Leeds fan pundit Kris Smith suggested they will look to sign a new midfielder, as well as a new attacker.

He believes injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev could spark another addition in the winter, and has claimed that the attack needs strengthening, especially if someone like Patrick Bamford departs.

“Leeds are surely going to be busy heading into the new year, when the window opens given the areas of our side that are looking quite short due to injuries,” Smith told Football League World.

“One thing that I would expect would be a new midfield signing, given that we’ve got Ethan Ampadu out until the new year and might not be back to 100 per cent until a month after that, and Ilia Gruev who could be out until March.

“You’ve got two defensive midfielders there that won’t be up to speed when the January window opens, and you don’t want to put any pressure on Ao Tanaka or Joe Rothwell staying fit, as well as [Joshua] Guilavogui, who’s just come in.

“He’s been a free agent since May, so it’s hard to expect an awful lot from him.

“So, signing someone in midfield to cover those positions would make a lot of sense to me, so we don’t have to rush back anyone.

“Another move though that I do think we should expect, and the fans are probably going to demand, is another attacking midfielder, or just another attacker in general, given Largie Ramazani has just been injured as well, and the fact that we did try to sign someone in the summer window.

“Someone that could play on the right side, for me, would be perfect in this Leeds team, but there could be scope for a striker to come in as well, given Joe Gelhardt looks like he’s just on the fringes and never going to play a minute under Farke.

“Patrick Bamford may be someone that we move on.”

Leeds United’s injury woes

Ampadu is unlikely to return until the new year, with Gruev set to be absent for a number of months.

This has left Leeds in a tricky position in midfield, with Joshua Guilavogui signing for the club as a free agent to help bring some depth back to the squad.

Manor Solomon has also had fitness issues in attack this season, with Ramazani now reportedly on the sidelines for the next six weeks.

Farke could see the January window as an opportunity to solve some of these injury issues, and help the club get over the line in the race for promotion this season.

January could prove crucial to Leeds’ promotion hopes

The January market could prove a very important period in the Championship given how close the promotion battle looks at the moment.

It offers the clubs a chance to strengthen, which Leeds may need if their injury issues keep piling on.

While Ampadu may be back in the new year, the club will want to avoid rushing him back and they’ll still be without Gruev anyway, so another addition in midfield could be smart.