Leeds United are still active in the transfer market despite the start of their campaign. In their opening game, the Whites salvaged a point late against Portsmouth, ending in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Brenden Aaronson secured the point for Daniel Farke’s side after Pompey seemed to have snatched the win.
Leeds are looking to strengthen their squad, particularly in midfield, where they lack depth beyond the starting duo of Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev. One target has been FC Koln’s Dejan Ljubicic, but progress has stalled.
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, a deal for Ljubicic now looks unlikely. Koln is demanding a high price for the 26-year-old, despite him being in the last year of his contract. Leeds had previously lodged a £3.3m bid, which was rejected.
With Farke seeking to bolster his squad, Ljubicic seems unlikely to be the incoming player.
Some Leeds fans may be calling for the club to spend more aggressively, especially after raising significant funds from the sales of Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville. However, the club is adopting a cautious approach to recruitment.
They aim to bring in players on their terms, ensuring smart business decisions are made to avoid financial pitfalls.
Their goal is to return to the Premier League sustainably, without overpaying for players in the last year of their contracts.
Leeds will either wait for Ljubicic’s price to drop or shift their focus to other targets. Currently, Ampadu and Gruev form a strong midfield partnership, but the team could be left vulnerable if injuries occur.
If a midfielder or a center-back is injured, necessitating Ampadu’s move to defense, the team will lose a key player in midfield.
Joe Rothwell is the only senior cover, while Charlie Crew is a highly-rated prospect whose development will be carefully managed.
The situation highlights the need for Leeds to secure more depth in their squad to maintain competitiveness and handle potential injuries throughout the season.
While they are not in immediate trouble, one injury could significantly impact their midfield stability.
