Good Morning. It's Wednesday 18th December, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
The need for a new No 10 in January continues to bubble below the surface - FrostonAthletic reporter Nancy Froston has suggested that playmaker Brenden Aaronson could be the weak link within the Leeds set-up, indicating new blood is needed in the January transfer window.
Replacing Georginio Rutter was always going to be a tall order. Despite his five goals (and one assist) this season, the USA International's form is beginning to wane. Whilst the Frenchman's shooting ability could be described as Battyesque, his vision and forward thinking made him one of the most feared forwards in the Championship last season.
Leeds have been linked with the likes of James McAtee, Emiliano Buendía and Ben-Brereton Díaz (who now seems destined for Bramall Lane). These are definitely the kind of players that would improve the Leeds team, but with less than a fortnight until the transfer window opens, will the Elland Road hierarchy just paper over the cracks like they did last January?
"Leeds were rattled in the first half and rushed in attack, with chances spurned by Brenden Aaronson and Joel Piroe. Away from home, a state of chaos does not suit United and Preston did well to create enough of it — both through disciplinary wind-ups and their own share of chances on the counter.
"The need for a new No 10 in January continues to bubble below the surface; Aaronson’s decision-making and wastefulness in attack do not match the execution of his team-mates. A first-half chance sent high and wide from a good position looked like it would cost Leeds."
Blades plan to exploit loan market with 3 players already lined upSheffield Utd are causing quite a stir on social media platform 'X' with strong speculation linking them with a host of top flight players ahead of the January transfer window.
Norwich veteran striker Ashley Barnes, along with Southampton duo James Bree and Ben-Brereton Díaz are hotly tipped to join the Blades in January, with Chris Wilder keen to add both depth and experience, to bolster his squad during the second half of the Championship season.
They have been shrewd in their approach to the loan market, already bringing in Harry Soutter, Alfie Gilchrist and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. They plan to take full advantage of the loan market, even though they'll only be able to field a maximum of five loanee's on any given matchday.
Boro jump the queue in hopes of signing BarryMiddlesbrough are emerging as frontrunners in the race to secure the services of Louie Barry from Aston Villa, after tearing up league One this season. The versatile 21 year old has already netted 14 goals from 20 starts for Stockport County this season, yet it's has been difficult to identify his best position, having played in five different areas of the pitch so far.
Leeds, along with Sheffield Utd and Wednesday have all been monitoring his progress, but with Emmanuel Latte Lath being hotly tipped to complete a £20m move to Ipswich next month, Middlesbrough have jumped the queue!
