I was relegated with Leeds United - here are three January transfer priorities to avoid a repeat
Leeds United have seven weeks to plan for any January transfer business that could keep them in the Premier League.
Former Leeds United winger Jermaine Pennant believes attacking reinforcements should be the January transfer priority at Elland Road.
Leeds spent just £18million reinforcing their front three in the summer, all of which went on AC Milan winger Noah Okafor while Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha arrived for free. Daniel Farke regularly called for further additions but they never came, with a deadline-day move for Fulham’s Harry Wilson falling through at the death.
Goals were expected to be a big problem for Leeds and so it has come to pass, with rock-bottom Wolves the only side to score fewer than their 10. The Whites have failed to score in four of their six away fixtures and therefore been vulnerable to losing by the odd goal or two.
Recruitment teams up and down the country have exactly seven weeks to get plans together before the January window opens, with those around Leeds in the table expected to spend big in a bid to stave off relegation. And Pennant, who was on loan at Elland Road when the Whites went down in 2004, believes those attacking issues need to be addressed.
“I would say the priority is in attack,” Pennant told the YEP, courtesy of NewBettingSites.uk. “I think maybe a No.10, someone creative, and maybe another wide slot.
“I think they’re relying at the moment on Brenden Aaronson, so is he top Premier League quality? He’s a good player but a little bit more strength and depth. So I would say another wide player and a creative N0.10.
“You also have to look at the strikers. If Calvert-Lewin was to get injured, who’s their main man after that? So maybe the attacking options are where Leeds need to be adding.”
Leeds United’s Elland Road form a ‘saving grace’ in relegation fight
Four defeats in five has left Leeds perilously close to the bottom three and their away form has been that of relegation candidates, with points coming only at Wolves. Things have been better at home, however, with established sides such as Everton, Bournemouth and Newcastle United all dropping points in West Yorkshire.
Leeds have a daunting four-game period to look forward to after the international break with Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool their next set of opponents. All but City are due at Elland Road though and Pennant believes that’s where Farke’s side will pick up most of their points.
“Yes I do [think they have enough to survive],” the former Leeds winger added. “Like I said, I think Elland Road is going to be their saving grace, their fortress and where they’re going to pick up the majority of their points.
“If they can continue how they’re playing at home and pick up points here and there, then yes they should [survive]. In terms of who is probably going to go down I think probably Wolves, Burnley… If you’d have asked me five games ago I would have said Sunderland but they’re sitting in a Champions League spot.
“There’s a long way to go and it can change but I’m not going to put them in. I’d have to say maybe West Ham, yes they got a good result against Newcastle but there’s a lot going on, the fans aren’t happy, they want the board out so I’m going to go Wolves, West Ham and Burnley.”