Leeds United are interested in signing two new loan players during the January transfer window.
Leeds United are closing in on the automatic promotion places after a 3-1 win over Swansea City extended their unbeaten streak to nine games.
After closing the gap on second-placed Ipswich Town to seven points, the Whites are beginning to dream of a return to the Premier League, and a continuation of their excellent form over the Christmas period could see them mount a serious promotion challenge.
The Yorkshire side has been near faultless under Daniel Farke in recent months, but there are still some issues to be resolved in the January window, including Wilfried Gnonto‘s future.
The Italian has wanted to leave Elland Road since the summer, when he handed in a written transfer request, and if a prospective buyer meets his £25m asking price, he may get his wish.
If the 20-year-old does leave the club, he must be replaced, and according to Football Insider, Leeds are looking for two loan players.
While no names have been mentioned, the Whites will strike gold if Amad Diallo is one of the players they are after, with the former Atalanta man being a reported target for those at Elland Road over the summer.
Last season’s statistics for Amad Diallo at Sunderland
Diallo, who joined on loan from Manchester United, spearheaded the Black Cats’ charge towards the play-offs and was crucial down the right flank.
The quick-footed winger, who had 14 goals and three assists last season, used his brief stint in the North East to showcase his abilities, which have since been hampered by a long-term injury sustained in pre-season.
This prevented him from being loaned out elsewhere over the summer, but a return to action in January could see him unleash his arsenal once more; either sporadically at Old Trafford or on a regular basis in the Championship.
Farke should throw the kitchen sink at landing the €15m (£13m-rated) diamond to replace Gnonto, who has only scored once in 12 matches this season, while challenging Dan James for a spot on the right flank if he is made available for loan, as demonstrated by his scintillating form last term.
Amad Diallo’s compared to Dan James
James has been widely chastised for his wastefulness in the final third, but since dropping to the Championship, the Welshman has silenced his detractors by scoring five goals and providing four assists in 16 appearances this season.
With a goal conversion rate of 12% and three big chances missed, James is still prone to skewing gilt-edged chances wide of the target; however, more chances fall at the feet of the attacker than they would normally in the Premier League.
Like Diallo, who was dubbed “incredible” by Luke O’Nien, it’s the Leeds star’s blistering pace and deft movement that puts him in position to score in the first place, with most defenders in the division struggling to keep up with him.
However, when comparing Diallo’s statistics from last season to the numbers James is providing this season, the 21-year-old is noticeably better across various attacking metrics.
According to statistics, James only beats Diallo for attacking penalty box touches, which is largely due to Leeds dominating teams more than Sunderland did last season, rather than the Englishman’s willingness to break the lines and get into the box.
Farke’s pacey wideman is having a fantastic season so far, but there are fine margins between finishing in the play-offs and creeping into the top two, with the signing of additional quality in the final third, such as Diallo, capable of making all the difference come the end of the season.
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