Daniel Farke's blunt response to January transfer question as key Leeds United 'focus' outlined

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There is less than two weeks until the January window opens and Leeds United will be planning behind the scenes.

January is less than two weeks away but the busy festive schedule is all Daniel Farke and his Leeds United squad are focused on.

Leeds welcome Oxford United to Elland Road on Saturday, their final game before Christmas and the first of a five-game fortnight that will take them into the New Year. Farke’s side then travel to Stoke City on Boxing Day before games against Derby County and Blackburn Rovers either side of the turn of the year and a January 4 trip to Hull City.

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Farke has already revealed he expects a quiet January in West Yorkshire but speculation is starting to intensify, with reports of Leeds interest and interest in Leeds players. The German can expect transfer-related questions in every press conference for the next six weeks but insists focus inside the squad is on finishing this year strongly and starting the next one in a similar manner.

“Even when there is interest, we have calmed everything down,” Farke said ahead of Oxford’s weekend visit to Elland Road. “We are in such a crucial period, and we want all our players to focus on us right now. We want the whole squad to be focused on these next five games.

“After January 4, there will be an FA Cup weekend and then we can speak about everything else, if we do something in January. Until then, there won’t be any decisions and we just want to focus on winning as many games as possible.”

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Farke has never ruled out any January activity and one would imagine club chiefs will explore possible options, particularly with so much on the line in terms of Championship promotion. One thing the Leeds boss will certainly be keen on is keeping the current squad - at least the core of it - unchanged.

Recent reports have suggested there is Premier League interest in stand-in captain Pascal Struijk, who could miss Saturday’s visit of Oxford with a hamstring injury. But Leeds certainly aren’t under any pressure to raise funds part-way through the campaign after making those sacrifices over the summer.

“I don’t think we need to earn any more money,” Farke added. “We earned more money than any club in Western Europe [in the summer]. It’s important for us to be sustainable after some difficult years in terms of spending. You have to stick to the rules and there is a moment when you have to sell some players after perhaps over-spending.

“It was beneficial for the long-term picture. We had to rebuild but overall, I think it was beneficial. We are a healthy club right now and so no pressure to do anything. We can’t spend a fortune but there is no need to do anything in terms of earning more money.”

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