The January transfer window has been open for approximately two weeks Leeds United They are not yet in the market to strengthen their first team.
Daniel WakeThe side is currently higher championship One point ahead of Sheffield United and Burnley, they may feel they don't need to make any big moves to improve the team.
However, the Whites are only one point ahead of the third-placed Clarets, meaning their position in the automatic promotion places is far from secure.
Bringing in a player or two in the January transfer window could give the team a boost ahead of the second half of the 2024/25 season, to help them push forward and secure a return to the Premier League at the second time of asking.
Leeds beat Second Division side Harrogate Town 1-0 in the FA Cup at Elland Road on Saturday, a game that summed up their need for a new striker, with Mathieu Joseph and Rated 5/10 For his performance.
The West Yorkshire side were without Joel Biro and Patrick Bamford, and the latter could be without a move on amid interest in his services.
Why should Leeds sell Patrick Bamford?
Journalist Alan Nixon recently reported Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers are interested in a deal to sign the former England international from the club this month.
John Eustace is eyeing Leeds' number nine to bolster his attacking options ahead of the second half of the season, as the former Birmingham boss attempts to add more experience to his collection, the reporter revealed.
Football Insider claimed. In December, Bamford is likely to leave in the summer and his “large” wage poses a “problem” for the Whites, as it makes it difficult to facilitate a winter switch.
If Blackburn are willing to increase the wage required to sign the Englishman, Leeds should cash in on him this month and move to bring in another striker to replace him.
Bamford is currently out with Hamstring injury But he did not contribute much on the field before his absence Zero goals and zero assists In ten matches in the tournament.
|
Championship 23/24 |
Patrick Bamford |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
33 |
|
xG |
9.52 |
|
Objectives |
8 |
|
Great opportunities were missed |
9 |
|
Helps |
1 |
As you can see in the table above, the Leeds striker was wasting away in the Second Division last season for Farke when he featured more regularly, and his xG performance was almost two goals lower.
It is said that Bamford Higher gain In the team, for 80 thousand pounds per week, and his statistics from the 2023/24 season and the current season indicate that he does not provide enough on the field to justify this.
Therefore, Farke must allow the board to sell him to Blackburn, if the offer is right, and then put pressure on Middlesbrough star Emmanuel Lathe Lath to replace him.
Leeds United interest in Emmanuel Latte Lath
Leeds United News reported recently The White Team is interested in a potential deal to sign the Championship striker to enhance the club’s attacking options.
The West Yorkshire outfit are allegedly considering whether or not to make a bid for the Ivorian striker, as they want to add a new number nine to the squad before the end of the January transfer window.
However, it has been added that Premier League sides West Ham United, Ipswich Town and Leicester City are also monitoring his situation.
According to journalist Luca Bindoni, MLS team Atlanta United have made a bid An offer of around £15 million to secure a deal for the Middlesbrough star, although it remains to be seen whether that will be enough to tempt them to sell.
However, this shows the kind of numbers Leeds may have to go to in order to complete a deal for the 26-year-old before the second half of the season.
However, Lathe's form for Middlesbrough in the Championship over the past 18 months suggests he may be worth spending money on, as he could be an ideal replacement for Bamford this month.
Why should Leeds sign Emmanuel Latte Lath?
While the England striker has struggled mightily on the pitch for Leeds for most of Farke's time at the club so far, the Boro striker has proven to be a deadly No.9 in the Second Division.
Speaking to the World Football League Last summer, former England midfielder Carlton Palmer claimed that Latte Lath “could be a 20-25 goal-a-season striker”, and his statistics in the last two seasons suggest the potential is certainly there for him to be so.
The Middlesbrough star is close to scoring 20 goals in the Championship in the 2023/24 season. He has achieved an impressive amount of 16 goals in 23 matchesfrom xG of only 11.62.
As you can see in the table above, Latte Lath vastly outclassed Bamford in front of goal thanks to his impressive finishing ability, besting his xG by more than four goals.
The Leeds target has continued to impress in the Championship this season and is currently on a comeback Ten goals and two assists In 17 matches with Michael Carrick's team.
This means that the Ivorian dynamo has scored 26 goals and provided three assists in 40 matches for Middlesbrough at league level since his move to the club from Atalanta in the summer of 2023.
He provided a consistent and effective presence at the top of the pitch for the Teesiders, while Bamford consistently underperformed in front of goal, while earning £70,000 a week, at the time.
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Therefore, Latte Lath, given he is already a proven Championship striker, could be the ideal replacement for Bamford in the January transfer window to provide Farke with the firepower required to gain automatic promotion over the line this year.