Leeds United transfer wish still a reality for Daniel Farke after number 10 target frustration
It's been a steady start to the 2024/25 Championship campaign for Daniel Farke and Leeds United. After a summer of upheaval, the Whites brought in eight new players who are still acclimatising to life at Elland Road.
Leeds are right amongst the early promotion chasing pack, sitting in sixth place in the Championship and five points off league leaders West Brom. The start to the campaign has not been without it's struggles.
Georginio Rutter's departure has left a creative void in the final third, with United still in need of one or two additions to help in that area of the pitch. But what about those who were linked with a move to Elland Road in the recent summer transfer window? Could Leeds revisit those transfers this summer and how likely are they?
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LeedsLive has taken a look at how those who were linked with a move to the club have fared:
Gus Hamer
Leeds' approach for Sheffield United playmaker Gus Hamer took the Championship by surprise. The Whites had a £13m bid rejected for the Brazilian born midfielder, much to the annoyance of Blades' boss Chris Wilder.
The 27-year-old has shown no sign of being affected by those Leeds transfer links, with four goals and one assist in eight appearances in all competitions so far this season. His output in the final third would have been a welcome addition to the Whites' squad, but Sheffield United are highly unlikely to be willing to sell their creative spark to a Championship rival.
Wilder reiterated that Hamer was one of the best players in the Championship during a recent press conference and it's hard to argue otherwise.
Roland Sallai
Farke's side were linked with a summer move for SC Freiburg winger Roland Sallai - a standout performer for the Bundesliga outfit over the past few seasons. However, Leeds were quoted a fee said to be in the region of £10million and a move to Elland Road would not come to fruition.
As the English and German transfer windows closed, it looked as though Leeds would have to revisit this transfer in the summer, but the Hungarian completed a £5million move to Galatasaray prior to the Turkish transfer window closing.
Another transfer that is now unlikely after signing a four-year deal in Türkiye.
Emi Buendia
"Buendia was on our list and, very clearly from Aston Villa, wasn't going to be released and the player didn't want to come back down to Championship level, Leeds' CEO Angus Kinnear revealed on the The Square Ball podcast earlier this month. “He felt he served his time at Championship level and then Gustavo Hamer, who we've had an interest in before he went to Sheffield United, was another player who we felt would have significantly improved the team."
Buendia would have been quite the coup for Leeds United had they been able to pull of the transfer this summer and is a player Farke knows well from his time at Carrow Road. However, Kinnear's comments suggest promotion to the Premier League would be the only way to secure his services, unless the Argentinian has a change of heart.
The 27-year-old has made five appearances for Aston Villa in all competitions this season, making just one start in the Carabao Cup.
James McAtee
The Whites also showed an interest in Manchester City youngster James McAtee who spent time on loan at Sheffield United.
“Two of the other players, looking at the level we were looking at, McAtee at Man City, there was talk he might be released all the way through the window and then Pep decided to keep him," Kinnear revealed in the same interview. A loan move for the England youth international is not out of the question come the January transfer window if Leeds want to bolster their squad for promotion.
Fabio Carvalho
"Then Carvalho, who, again, might have been able to go out on another loan," Kinnear revealed. “It might have been a Championship loan or a Premier League loan. We thought we were first in the queue if it was going to be in the Premier League and he ended up being sold for £27m to Brentford.
“To strengthen our team and to make it better, we have to shop at the highest level possible. And there is lots and lots of frustration.”
The Portuguese youngster had a promising campaign on loan with Hull City last season and it would have been another exciting addition had it come to fruition. The 22-year-old has made five appearances in the Premier League since his summer move to the Bees, his only start coming in the recent defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.
He remains a potential target for the Whites in January should his game time not improve at Brentford, but after such a big money move, it's clear Thomas Frank is a big fan of the attacking midfielder.