Leeds linked with two stellar free agent midfield signings as Farke makes big claim over ‘panic’ buy.
Daniel Farke has hinted Leeds could be ready to dip their toes into the free-agent market with two players touted as possible targets, and with one respected pundit issuing a worrying update on injury setbacks suffered by Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev.
The Whites have started the season brightly as they look to bounce back from last season’s promotion near miss and have lost just once in their eight matches so far to currently sit fifth in the embryonic Championship table. Leeds, though, could hit top spot on Friday night if they can claim a win at the home of early pacesetters Sunderland.
While winning at the Stadium of Light will be a difficult task – the Black Cats are four from four at home and yet to concede a goal on their own turf – Leeds will travel with optimism after some relatively impressive displays in recent games.
However, their quest for promotion has been made doubly difficult with two big injuries sustained by their first-choice midfield pair Ampadu and Gruev – both of whom could face prolonged spells on the sidelines.
As a result, Leeds have been left with no option but to turn to the free-transfer market and now two unattached midfielders – former West Ham and Nottingham Forest man, Cheikhou Kouyate and Christoph Kramer, most recently of Borussia Monchengladbach – have been touted as potential targets by the Yorkshire Post.
Jack Cork, another potential option, has been taken off the market after he re-signed for Burnley in a player-academy coach capacity.
Discussing the possibility of dipping their toes into the free-agency market, Farke insists Leeds would not be forced into a panic signing.
“It is professional of us to check who is available and what we could do, but to be honest, I am not a big fan of signing people out of contract when you get to October,” Farke told a press conference.
Daniel Farke has hinted Leeds could be ready to dip their toes into the free-agent market with two players touted as possible targets, and with one respected pundit issuing a worrying update on injury setbacks suffered by Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev.
The Whites have started the season brightly as they look to bounce back from last season’s promotion near miss and have lost just once in their eight matches so far to currently sit fifth in the embryonic Championship table. Leeds, though, could hit top spot on Friday night if they can claim a win at the home of early pacesetters Sunderland.
