Daniel Farke has played down Leeds United’s quiet January transfer window, insisting his squad has not been weakened despite missing out on Jørgen Strand Larsen and adding just one player before the deadline.
Speaking ahead of Friday’s crucial Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest, the Leeds head coach stressed unity and trust within the club, rejecting the idea that a lack of signings should undermine belief in the group.
Leeds miss out on Strand Larsen despite late push
Leeds made a significant attempt to sign Strand Larsen late in the window, tabling a £40 million bid. Crystal Palace ultimately won the race on deadline day after offering around £8m more, leaving Leeds without their primary attacking target.
Supporters have since raised concerns over a lack of depth at centre-forward, particularly given Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury record. There are also questions at full-back should Jayden Bogle or Gabriel Gudmundsson miss time.
Facundo Buonanotte arrived on loan as Leeds’ only January signing, while Jack Harrison’s departure to Fiorentina briefly reopened discussions around a backup left-back.
Farke stresses trust and ‘club-first’ mentality
Despite those concerns, Farke was adamant that he would not publicly question the squad at his disposal, explaining that doing so would risk damaging confidence at a critical stage of the season.
“Normally, it’s a good sign when you don’t do much in January, because if you have a look across Europe, the clubs in a good position rarely do much in January,” — Daniel Farke
The Leeds boss underlined that his focus remains on backing the players he has, rather than dwelling on missed opportunities.
“I adapt to the reality I have in this group right now. I concentrate on giving my group all my backing, all my work and all my trust,” — Daniel Farke
PSR limits and long-term planning
Leeds were restricted by Profit and Sustainability Rules after heavy summer spending, with the Strand Larsen bid expected to come from next season’s budget. Farke acknowledged those constraints and made clear that financial decisions sit beyond his remit.
“If we identify a player who can make us better, it’s up to other people in the club to decide if it’s affordable. I fully understand that we work with limited resources,” — Daniel Farke
He also dismissed any suggestion of tension between himself and the board, reinforcing the importance of alignment across the club.
“It’s important that we are all together, not me versus the board. I am here to back the club,” — Daniel Farke
Key Insights
- Leeds failed to land Strand Larsen despite a £40m bid
- Facundo Buonanotte was the club’s only January arrival
- PSR limits shaped transfer strategy
- Farke insists squad trust must come first
- Club unity remains central to survival push
What’s Next
Leeds now turn fully towards Friday’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest, a fixture that could define their relegation battle. With no further reinforcements arriving, Farke will lean heavily on cohesion, belief and clarity of roles as Leeds look to pull clear of danger.
Does Farke’s club-first approach give Leeds the best chance of survival — or was January a missed opportunity?
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