This weekend, Leeds United will take a breather from Championship play as they get ready to visit Harrogate Town at Elland Road for the FA Cup third round.
In order to determine if any of the group’s fringe players may cause Daniel Farke selection headaches before the next league games, the Whites have the possibility to offer them chances.
Karl Darlow will have a chance to show off his goalkeeping skills following Illan Meslier‘s errors against Hull City in the previous game, as shown in the clips below.
If Farke chooses to make a change in goal, the former Newcastle United keeper will be eager to prove that he has what it takes to step up in the Championship.
Mateo Joseph might have the chance to start at the front of the line against the League Two team since Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford are out due to injuries.
Given rumors that Leeds is interested in adding another number nine to their roster during the January transfer window, which opened for business last week, a strong performance from the Spain U21 international might be required.
Leeds is considering a striker deal.
Ben Heckner, a writer for Sky Sports, claims that the Whites are trying to sign Mergim Berisha, a center-forward for Hoffenheim, in order to increase their offensive options for the second half of the season.
The Championship team may have to compete to sign the former Germany international before the transfer window closes since, according to the reporter, both Leeds and Werder Bremen are interested in him.
He goes on to say that any agreement could be set up such that the striker would join Elland Road on a loan for 18 months, with the option to make the move permanent in the summer of 2026.
Before determining whether or not to retain Berisha in the long run, Leeds or Werder Bremen would have the opportunity to manage him for the better part of two seasons.
It is difficult to determine how financially feasible a transaction is for the Whites at this time, though, because neither the amount Hoffenheim would seek for the permanent option nor the amount they would want as a loan fee for the first 18 months are mentioned.
However, Leeds might benefit greatly from the deal, which would also enable them to finally bid farewell to Joe Gelhardt, who has been linked to leaving West Yorkshire this month.
Why it might be Joe Gelhardt’s last
Farke stated in a statement prior to the match against Harrogate that Gelhardt is free to talk to other teams but that he has not yet decided whether or not the attacker would be permitted to depart during the current transfer window.
The German head coach may be a little reluctant to approve a move at this time because Joseph and the English striker are the only two senior center-forward alternatives available for this weekend due to Bamford and Piroe being sidelined due to injury.
But by adding an experienced number nine like Berisha, the former Norwich City manager would have another strong choice in that position, enabling him to let Gelhardt go without worrying about how it would affect the depth of his squad.
Champions who struggled The 22-year-old jerk, who has failed to make an impression on Farke‘s plans over the last 18 months or so, is apparently being pursued by a number of clubs, including Hull City.
What Leeds may gain from Mergim Berisha
The German center-forward may be a great addition to the team for a variety of reasons, in addition to having the necessary squad depth to be able to let go of Gelhardt.
The 26-year-old attacker Berisha has a fair amount of experience and has played in the Bundesliga and internationally for Germany. He might be a great mentor to Joseph, 21, helping him reach his full potential.
It would be a bit of a risk for Leeds, though, given the forward has had difficulty getting into the game since missing 251 days due to an ACL injury in November 2023.
But before that protracted injury layoff, Berisha, who Football Chatters analysts have called a “clinical finisher,” had already proven himself at the highest level in German.
The gem had scored 14 goals and provided ten assists in 28 league games for RB Salzburg during the 2020–21 season under Leeds manager Jesse Marsch, who reportedly made a bid to bring him to Elland Road in the summer of 2022 in order to increase his forward options.
Although it would be risky, landing the German star on an initial 18-month loan could be a wise move that would enable Fake to bid Gelhardt farewell. Berisha has one goal and one assist in 11 Bundesliga games this season.
Leave a Comment