AliousLeeds United are in the midst of their second attempt to return to the Premier League and currently sit in second place in the Championship. Their recent 1-1 draw with Preston North End left them three points behind league leaders Sheffield United and narrowly ahead of Burnley in third. Despite missing out on promotion through the play-offs last season, Leeds remain firmly in conten mltion for automatic promotion to the top flight.
As the January transfer window approaches, manager Daniel Farke may look to strengthen the squad to enhance their chances in the second half of the season. Farke has previously demonstrated his willingness to use the winter window effectively; during his successful promotion campaign with Norwich in 2021, he brought in Dimi Giannoulis on loan from PAOK. The Greek international started 16 games and played a pivotal role in Norwich’s title win. This shows Farke understands the importance of reinforcements during a promotion push, though he may need to offload one or two players to create room for new arrivals.
### The Player Leeds Should Sell in January
One player who appears primed for departure is Patrick Bamford. The 31-year-old striker has been linked with clubs such as Genoa and Wrexham, as reports suggest a transfer away from Elland Road could happen in 2025. Given the interest in Bamford, Leeds should seize the opportunity to move on from the forward, who has struggled for form and impact this season.
Bamford, now the third-choice striker behind Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph, has failed to register a single goal or assist this campaign, despite reportedly earning £40,000 per week. His time at Leeds has been marred by inconsistency, with the forward failing to reach double-digit league goals in four of his six full seasons. Moreover, data highlights his inefficiency in front of goal. Since 2017/18, no player in tracked leagues worldwide has underperformed their expected goals (xG) more than Bamford. According to VisualGame via FBref, Bamford has underperformed by a staggering 23.9 goals, topping the global list of xG underperformance despite the absence of Championship xG data for the 2017/18 season. Even his penalty-taking record has been poor, with three consecutive misses.
With these factors in mind, Farke should prioritize selling Bamford in January, freeing up resources to target a more reliable forward.
### Leeds Target a Premier League Striker
One potential replacement for Bamford is Brighton & Hove Albion’s Evan Ferguson. Reports suggest the young forward could be available for a temporary move to Elland Road during the January transfer window. If Leeds can secure Ferguson, it could provide the firepower needed to solidify their promotion ambitions.
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