The return of the Premier League may still feel like a long way off, but the preparation for Leeds United is very much under way. The January transfer window opens just three days after Leeds' first game back against Manchester City on December 28, with Jesse Marsch potentially looking at some new additions to the squad.
It's been a disjointed first half of the campaign for numerous reasons, but Leeds showed signs before the enforced break that they were starting to click as a side. There are still problems to address, of course, but there are reasons to be positive for the United faithful.
Our man Beren Cross held his regular Q&A session with Leeds United supporters to answer your questions on what will be a crucial few months for the Elland Road side. Here's the full transcript.
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ben12345: Will leeds be active in January?
BC: We certainly hope so and that's the noise we're hearing from Elland Road. A striker and a left-back are the obvious routes they should take and we're led to understand that's Orta's line of thinking too. There may even be some outs. It's not a huge squad with a lot of players on the periphery looking for minutes, but Mateusz Klich may be tempted, at this stage of his career, to look for more minutes elsewhere.
Craig92: With Glazers and FSG exploring sale of club, ould 49ers reassess option to purchase Leeds? After the World Cup is complete, could we see Qatar money come into the Premier League? Could they rival or invest with 49ers
Beren Cross: It is interesting what's gone on in the States with Liverpool and Man United's owners. There are clearly reasons behind their decisions and you wonder if they affect 49ers in the same way. There has been nothing to suggest a changing of circumstances in that regard, but it's one to watch in this void of information of progress we have seen from San Francisco for a long time.
johnno64: Now the Augustine issue sorted, though not to our satisfaction, does this mean he is ours to me either sell or use in the team? With regards to striker and left back there have been a some very good options in the World Cup in both areas which may be suitable to the way we play with. Also if Pulisic wants away from the Chelsea he would make great addition at right price and we know he can play in the Premier League.
BC: Neither Leeds nor Leipzig were claiming ownership of Augustin when push came to shove in the autumn of 2020. As a result, FIFA permitted the Frenchman to sign on as a free agent with whoever he wished. In washing their hands of him at that moment, Leeds lost any rights to the striker's registration, even if they would later be found to owe Leipzig the transfer fee originally agreed. It does, simply, go down as one of the worst business decisions in the club's history.
The World Cup can historically be a bad place to scout for talent. Players can perform well over a very short period of time in very specific circumstances and massively inflate their value, forcing clubs to pay over the odds, and then failing to recapture that unique vein of form again. Pulisic, for example, would surely be beyond United's budget? He will be on big money at Chelsea. However, the Blues will be aware the American has 18 months to run on his contract with, perhaps, little appetite to renew given his limited game time.
olivetree: Leeds are in the top half of the league for goals scored and in the bottom half for goals conceded, yet the club are still linked with strikers first and defenders second. Bearing in mind that the alleged desire to replace Pascal at left-back is for attacking not defending reasons, is the strategy ‘if they score 3, then we’ll score 4’?
BC: I wouldn't say that's the official strategy, no, but I see the point you're making. It's more of a legacy transfer shortlist from the summer. They didn't get the first-rate striker and left-back they needed and so that needs addressing still. The centre-back situation is settled and so is the right-back situation. The goals issue has improved recently with the form of Summerville and Rodrigo, but I still think they need another nine that really complements the system. Despite his goals, it's still not clicking, for me. At left-back, it's clear Struijk needs to be playing in the centre for his long-term development and Firpo cannot be trusted as yet.
ben12345: How come Leeds have slowed down the number of u21s they're bringing in?
BC: What makes you think they've slowed down? It seems, to me at least, they've kept going at it through the last few windows. By all means come back to me, but I think youth recruitment remains of huge importance to the club's transfer policy. Sonny Perkins is a good example of someone who came in during the summer and lit it up. Gyabi ticking along nicely too.
Craig92: I am guessing Klich will look to leave in January and there have been rumours about Forshaw. Will it be a case of player has to come in before one leaves?
BC: Klich seems the most realistic of the more senior names to consider a January exit. At this stage of his career, he surely wants to be playing more regularly, but Leeds do not have a massive squad to cope with several exits. I can't see Forshaw moving on. He has a contract to fight for at Leeds and will want to get back to a decent level after his injury issues.
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