Leeds United transfer poker and deadline chicken as fixtures reveal specific needs in 10-day raid

It has been a summer of cards being clutched tightly to chests at Elland Road with very little said on the record about transfer plans, other than chairman Paraag Marathe's talk of aggression and Daniel Farke's regular declarations of just how much needs to be done and how hard everyone is working to do it.

Leeds have been careful not to let the rest of the footballing world know what kind of a financial hand they hold in the new 49ers Enterprises era - talk of war chests inevitably leads to price hikes - although the unsuccessful attempt to play the Max Aarons card was irrefutable evidence that there is still money to be spent, even before Tyler Adams was sold for around £23m.

What recruitment there has been thus far has been thrifty - Sam Byram was free, Joe Rodon is a loan, Karl Darlow cost just £400k and Ethan Ampadu at £7m feels bargainous - and sensible. Each of those four signings has the look of solid Championship business, ticking boxes in terms of ability and experience.

What recruitment there is still to do is plentiful and needs to represent ambition, or aggression to use Marathe's word of choice.

The games Leeds have played under Farke have revealed as such. A natural goalscoring number nine would have given them the presence in the area that was lacking at Birmingham City and might have finished off one of the chances created against West Brom. In both of those fixtures the absence of a natural number 10, a flair player with vision and guile, would have turned territory into opportunities. Someone who can receive the ball with their back to goal and produce something clever and instantaneous so that attacks continue to flow, so that the play does not have to go back towards the halfway line, is key. The YEP understands that reports of a move for Brighton's Facundo Buonanotte are wide of the mark but his profile as a chance creator would make sense. Leeds were probably only that kind of player away from beating West Brom and they weren't far away from getting something at Birmingham, but now they're not far away from the transfer deadline.

If Leeds viewed this window as one of two halves, with the first allowing them to deal with exits and the second focusing more on their own recruitment, then we really are approaching the final whistle and no time can be wasted.

The outgoing transfer ground, which has been covered extensively, was where the first battles of the summer had to be fought and those skirmishes, some of which have not gone Leeds' way, held the club's focus and attention for some time. Until they knew who was staying, a clear picture of what they needed could not be built. The argument for writing off anyone with a release clause from the outset and clearing the decks as promptly as possible is getting stronger and stronger in hindsight.

In the here and now, it's almost all about incoming recruitment. The Luis Sinisterra and Willy Gnonto situations need to be resolved but the greater need is at number nine, number 10, full-back and in the centre of midfield. Of course if either man goes they will have to be replaced.

Farke has made it clear that relying on Ethan Ampadu and a 17-year-old, in Archie Gray, is not sustainable. Should either player have to drop out of the side, Leeds' current options do not a promotion charge make. One good addition in midfield is the least the manager will expect. They wanted Aarons and Farke has spoken about the need to bolster at full-back, so that's another one, minimum.

The squad as it is can be described as a solid enough base, a foundation, because the options at goalkeeper are good, there are four centre-backs who could all start, there is experience in the full-back areas, real potential in the current midfield pivot and danger out wide. Farke's current striker options, when fit, will give him variety and choices to make.

But all in, Leeds are probably looking at several signings if they want to make their Championship stay the 'bump in the road' Marathe talked about. And 10 days remain in the window. Every club makes it clear they want the right players, not just any players, and Leeds are no different. So with that much business left to do it will require a steady hand and a convincing poker face in the various negotiations that are currently ongoing. The clock is ticking, selling clubs are sniffing for desperation, the fanbase is crying out for news of arrivals and the deadline is coming down the road towards them at speed, so standing their ground on any specific detail of a deal will take serious confidence that they're doing the right thing.

What the next 240 hours needs to look like is an episode of 1990s daytime television hit Supermarket Sweep, with Leeds playing the part of a contestant haring around filling their trolley before the clock hits zero. The kind of contestant they need to be is the one who knows exactly what they're after and makes a beeline straight for the high value items. That should not present too much of a challenge because Gretar Steinsson and Nick Hammond have had all summer to draw up their shopping list.

There is some method to leaving things late because that is when things move in football and targets once thought to be unobtainable suddenly become realistic signings. Any explanation of your method looks like madness, however, if the deadline comes and you haven't come up with the goods. The time to go wild in the aisles is very much upon Leeds now, if they want to check out of the Championship next summer.