Leeds United transfer window desire status with 'background preparations' for January underway

Though Farke's focus this week has been on a trio of nightmarish fixtures against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, the subject of transfers is coming back into view. January is approaching with its final chance for Leeds to rectify the failure to add the final piece or pieces of the jigsaw puzzle back in the summer window. Their attempts to sign a creative right winger and number 10 blend fell short as players either opted for options that gave them Champions League football or in the case of Harry Wilson were forced to stay put by their clubs.

Creativity in the final third has been an issue for Farke's men, though a switch to 3-5-2 and a more direct, physical approach has brought five goals in the last three halves of football against Man City and Chelsea. That said, winger Daniel James will be out for at least eight weeks with a hamstring tendon issue and in his press conference to preview Saturday's Liverpool game Farke admitted there were question marks over both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha.

Moving to a 3-5-2 in the last two games has raised a question as to what it is exactly Leeds might need to try and add in January, because it puts a heavy strain on two strikers with extensive injury histories. Farke has other forwards, like Joel Piroe and Harry Gray, but neither are the physical targetman type who could play the role Calvert-Lewin plays.

The Leeds boss is still not minded to reveal details of the club's transfer activities and admits injuries could yet force their hand, but he dropped a not-so-subtle hint that he still wants further attacking creativity.

"During this week I'm definitely too busy, so I have not one one per cent energy to waste during this week to think about, okay, what could happen?" he said. "It's also important what happens in terms of injuries or long term injuries, finger crossed that nothing will happen. It also depends on how the players deliver right now in the upcoming games, where we think, okay, there is something that we can improve. I spoke most of the summer about what I would have liked to sign and this has not gone away. But right now, during this week, my spotlight is just on Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, not too much what happens from January 1. So yes, in the background, of course, the club is preparing, and we are preparing what is necessary to do, but it's not the time during this week to speak about. Right now, the focus is just on these upcoming games, and right now a home game against the reigning champions."