Leeds United entertain West Brom at Elland Road in the Championship on Friday night
Leeds United welcome West Brom to The Hawthorns on Friday evening with seemingly plenty of work to do in the transfer window and little time in which to carry out the necessary business. Many Albion supporters – and boss Carlos Corberan himself – have been frustrated to this point that the Baggies haven’t been able to add more faces to their squad, but at Leeds there is something of an injury crisis for Daniel Farke to contend with, too.
Then you have the players who are either about to exit Elland Road, or are refusing to play in order to force through a move away. Leeds, who have taken one point from their opening two league games on their return to the Championship, are down to the bare bones ahead of welcoming Albion.
The injury list, first of all, is a lengthy one; captain Liam Cooper has been ruled out for around two months with an ankle injury. Patrick Bamford, who struggled with injuries in their recent Premier League campaign, tweaked his hamstring in pre-season and isn’t expected back until after the September international break. Crysencio Summerville, who scored a dramatic late equaliser on the opening weekend of the season, hurt his groin and will also miss this fixture.
Full-back Junior Firpo and Mateo Joseph aren’t expected back until September, either, although Sam Greenwood is one player who may make an appearance having recently been struck down with injury in the pre-season friendly against Manchester United in Norway.
Then there are the issues on the transfer front. Willy Gnonto has been the subject of interest from elsewhere and has reportedly refused to play in order to force through a move before the 1st September deadline. Fellow attacker Luis Sinistierra was also ‘unavailable’ at Blues last weekend, confirmed by Farke. Tyler Adams’ release clause has been triggered by Bournemouth and he could complete that move before Friday.
Already, Leeds have had a clear-out after relegation, but while Leicester City and Southampton have successfully raised millions and millions in the transfer window, the Whites have struggled to shift players permanently and have had to instead enter into a host of loan agreements. Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), Robin Koch (Frankfurt), Max Wober (Borussia Monchengladbach), Rasmus Kristensen (Roma), Marc Roca (Real Betis) and, most recently, Jack Harrison (Everton) have all left but Leeds aren’t much richer.
They bid farewell to Weston McKennie at the end of his Juventus loan spell, sold Tyler Roberts to Blues for a nominal fee, sold talisman Rodrigo to Qatari outfit Al-Rayyan and released midfielder Adam Forshaw.
Leeds have added Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea, welcomed back academy product Sam Byram and added goalkeeper Karl Darlow as well as centre half Joe Rodon, on loan from Tottenham, but Helder Costa is free to leave and has no future under Farke. All of the above has left the Leeds fanbase with little optimism and a frustration that Farke hasn’t been aided with more signings with only a little over a fortnight left of the transfer window and the new season well and truly underway…
Gelderd Resident: We need a minimum of 3 players this week. That won’t be happening and West Brom do a job on us Friday. Excellent.
Barry Hamilton: Player sale roulette week? How much do West Brom beat us by on Friday night? Maybe I need a week away from thinking our club is remotely professional.
Tony S: West Brom next then Ipswich, can’t see us getting anything from them 2 games we could be bottom by next week.
Bradley Mills: West Brom and Ipswich both absolutely smash this Leeds team by the way.
housevrywknd: If we don’t sign 3 starters before West Brom, we lose that too.
Boxing Chat: Really at a loss with how poor our starting 11 currently is, if we do not see two or three in before West Brom, not blamed the owners up until now but they need to get a move on now.
All Day LUFC: We all know that we rock up Friday night vs West Brom with the exact same team, maybe one or two players back from injuries. Jokers.
Rossii: We are going to get smashed by West Brom on Friday if we play the same team we played against Birmingham.. this season is already a write off imo.. no chance in hell of building a squad capable from scratch.
Tone: Imagine Elland Road Friday night if we get beat by West Brom & haven’t signed anyone.
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