'A very functional transfer window' published at 14:41 2 February
14:41 2 February
BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope gave his assessment of the January transfer window on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast: "I think it's OK. I'm glad they've not panicked into anything like we've done before with JKA [Jean-Kevin Augustin]. Don't overstretch yourself, don't make a stupid signing just because you feel like you've got to. In that sense, it's been OK.
"The players who've moved out, it's not been too damaging. It's just the numbers that worry me. They've brought someone in for an area that they absolutely needed to do."
Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix added: "Apart from Connor Roberts, it's been very neutral. We got rid of some players who weren't going to play, and got rid of Djed Spence.
"I think we could have done more. I really would have loved to get a number 10 in; I would have loved to get [David] Brooks. I understand that January is very hard, so it's been a very functional transfer window."
'It will be an absolute privilege'published at 23:55 1 February
23:55 1 February
Image source, Leeds United
Connor Roberts after completing his loan switch from Burnley: “I think for me personally, it’s a massive opportunity to come and play for such a big club like Leeds United.
“It’s something I couldn’t say no to and to hopefully be part of something special come the end of the season is what I am aiming for, and everyone in that dressing room is aiming for.
“If I can contribute both on and off the pitch in every way possible, hopefully we can all be smiling.
“I have got plenty of friends here who play here and tell me about what an amazing club it is, it’s something that I couldn’t turn down.
“To even get to play a handful of games for this massive club, it will be an absolute privilege.”
Roberts joins Leeds on loanpublished at 23:35 1 February
23:35 1 February
Image source, Getty Images
Burnley have confirmed defender Connor Roberts has joined Leeds United on loan for the rest of the season.
Roberts joined the Clarets in August 2021 from Swansea City and has made 88 appearances for the club over the last two-and-a-half seasons.
The Wales international will join Daniel Farke’s Championship promotion-chasers for the rest of the 2023-24 campaign.
Why was Ayling known as Bill?published at 14:35 1 February
14:35 1 February
Leeds forward Patrick Bamford speaks about the recent departure of Luke Ayling to Middlesbrough on the My Mate's A Footballer podcast.
"Since I got here, the main captain was Liam Cooper and the vice captain has always been Luke, but we used to call him Bill," said Bamford.
Revealing why Ayling has always been called Bill, Bamford said: "When he was a youngster at Arsenal, there was another player called Luke Freeman, so instead of having two Lukes, Ayling decided he wanted to be called Bill."
Don't Go To Bed Just Yet transfer deadline day specialpublished at 10:56 1 February
10:56 1 February
Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix will host a special live show at 22:00 GMT on BBC Radio Leeds, guiding you through the final hours of the January transfer window.
The key details about transfer deadline daypublished at 06:01 1 February
06:01 1 February
When does the transfer window close?
The transfer window will close at 23:00 GMT on Thursday for the Premier League and English Football League, while in Scotland, the window will shut 30 minutes later at 23:30.
Across Europe, the Bundesliga window will close at 17:00, Serie A at 19:00, Ligue 1 at 22:00 and La Liga at 23:00 - but the Women's Super League transfer window already closed on Wednesday night.
The transfer window for the Saudi Pro League, where a number of high-profile Premier League players moved in the summer, closed on 30 January.
Can a Premier League player signed on deadline day play this weekend?
Under league rules, new signings are eligible for the next Premier League game if the club submit the required documents by midday on the last working day before that match.
Where can I see all the confirmed transfer deals on deadline day?
Only 15 players have been signed by Premier League clubs in January, with 10 permanent transfers, five loan deals and disclosed fees of about £50m.
It is a far cry from the past three transfer windows - January 2023 and the summers of 2022 and 2023 - which each set Premier League spending records.
At the same point last year, on the eve of deadline day, there had been 38 transfers worth about £550m - 10 times this year's amount.
How can I follow transfer deadline day on the BBC?
From 07:00 on Thursday, we will have a page dedicated to all the latest transfer news, reaction and analysis. You cannot miss it as it will be the first thing you see on our football website.
You will also find regular updates on BBC Radio 5 Live and breaking news across BBC Sport's social media channels, including X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
There will also be a special edition of The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer and the Red Button from 22:00 until 23:30.
'A quiet window should not mean diminishing trust in recruitment team'published at 20:16 31 January
In Sam Byram, Leeds United have an excellent footballer while Junior Firpo is currently in the best form of his troubled time at Elland Road. Yet the irony is that the clamour for full-backs is still ringing before the transfer window closes.
That is because neither have the injury record to cope with a full Championship season. Plus, United have let Djed Spence return to his parent club early, allowed Luke Ayling to join Middlesbrough and sold Leo Hjelde to Sunderland.
Add to that Lewis Bate and Darko Gyabi heading off on loan along with young centre-back Jeremiah Mullen and as it stands, Leeds United are considerably weaker in numbers than at the start of the month.
Meanwhile, Championship rivals Hull City have landed two players fancied by Leeds in Liverpool's Fabio Carvalho and Luton Town wing-back Ryan Giles. The former has already scored a debut winner while the latter made seven starts and as many substitute appearances despite being out of favour at Kenilworth Road.
Similarly, the Hatters have brought in Japan's Daiki Hashioka, someone who Leeds made an approach for recently but were concerned about a possible injury. Farke would not name players involved but said two deals had been "very close" before they were scuppered due to medical issues.
It may be that Tigers' boss Liam Rosenior is willing to guarantee minutes when Farke will not and if so, it is commendable that the United boss sticks to his guns. However, the facts are that Leeds are yet to strengthen in key areas.
Closest promotion challengers Southampton have loaned Bournemouth pair David Brooks and Joe Rothwell with Ipswich bringing in Jeremy Sarmiento from Brighton. None of that bothers Farke who stressed that in his considerable experience "spirit and unity" of a group can prevail over the addition of individual quality.
The recruitment team under Nick Hammond at Elland Road was applauded for a difficult summer in shaping a competitive squad for Farke. A quiet window should not mean diminishing trust in their work, which in some ways shows that United are not panic buying.
However, it is undeniable that if no new faces arrive, supporters will worry Leeds' ability to sustain an automatic promotion push might have been compromised, especially if the four-match winning league run is not extended at Bristol City on Friday night when United could go second in the table.
'Gnonto just looked disappointed'published at 18:45 31 January
18:45 31 January
Media caption,
After Leeds' draw against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup at the weekend, the Don't Got To Bed Just Yet podcast team have been looking back on the game. They also discuss winger Wilfried Gnonto's performance as he tries to get more minutes from boss Daniel Farke.
Farke on 'trying' to sign players, 'unity' and injuriespublished at 14:19 31 January
14:19 31 January
Adam Pope, BBC Radio Leeds
Leeds United begin their mammoth February travels at Bristol City (Fri, KO: 8pm).
The game comes 24 hours after the transfer window will have shut. It is safe to say manager Daniel Farke can't wait for it to close! Here are the best lines from his news conference:
To date there are no new arrivals with 24 hours to go but Farke did admit the club had been "very close" to a couple of signings.
Injuries to the unnamed players saw the deals fall through, with Farke stating: "I can't guarantee that something will happen in the next 24 hours. What I can guarantee is that we're trying until the last hour to make something happen."
Farke added that Leeds have had a strong season so far, stating: "It's difficult to bring in players who will improve us. If you bring a player in in January, he has to help immediately. These players are pretty rare. It's difficult to make these deals happen."
He reiterated that the club will not lose key players by close of play on Thursday, which rules out a loan move for club captain Liam Cooper, who had been linked with Blackburn Rovers.
Farke stressed that keeping his squad together is a priority: "When you have a pretty tight group, you have a lot of spirit and unity. Every player is needed. This is my experience, sometimes unity and spirit is more important than individual quality."
On business done by his Championship rivals, he said: "It doesn't affect what we want to do. We're definitely doing just business that's sensible for Leeds United. It's not like we feel forced because an opponent is signing players. You do something if you're 100% convinced."
On the injury front Archie Gray - who had a knee issue - and Crysencio Summerville - who had a groin problem - are both available for the Championship clash at Ashton Gate. However, Dan James (groin) and Pascal Struijk (adductor) remain out. The latter is making progress but will not return to team training for a further two weeks.
There was such a shortage of players at Elland Road on Saturday in the FA Cup that Leeds United had an extra goalkeeper on the bench just to make up the numbers. In a January transfer window when the club needed to strengthen, they have lost players.
Djed Spence was sent back to Tottenham, Luke Ayling departed for Middlesborough, Darko Gyabi joined Plymouth on loan and Leo Hjelde is set to be sold to Sunderland.
Archie Gray and Mateo Joseph negotiated new contracts, but no new players have come in.
"If we bring a player in, it has to fit all areas and we will still work till the last hour of this window... but it's complicated and difficult," Daniel Farke said last week.
Leeds looked at bringing Charlie Taylor back to the club – with his contract expiring in six months – but he is heavily involved (and now injured) at Burnley.
Japan right-back Daiki Hashioka was also reportedly considered before a recent injury spooked the Whites, while the club remain far from Everton's valuation of Ben Godfrey.
Leeds must push for signings before the window shuts, as the fear is that a few injuries could derail a season still full of promise.
The tragic of The FA Cuppublished at 16:08 29 January
16:08 29 January
On the latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix reflect on the prospect of another away game in an already packed fixture schedule following a 1-1 draw against Plymouth in the FA Cup.
The panel also look ahead to transfer deadline day.
"There'll be a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth and stuff," said Rix.
"I thought Farke was good when he said 'if you're going to draw one match last week, that's the one to draw'. I think that was totally true.
"It thought it gave us a chance to get some minutes. We've seen with with (Ilia) Gruev, with (Junior) Firpo, with (Patrick) Bamford - they can't just come into the team seemingly, I don't know what it is about the system but they can't come in and just go straight off.
"A lot of people were saying (Wilfried) Gnonto wasn't very good, and I kind of agree, but he looked knackered - after 60 minutes he was done. If he plays against Plymouth again that's more minutes."
Leeds play Bristol City on Friday before their Plymouth replay on Tuesday 6 Feb and Buchan added: "You have to make that many changes for the league, to have those players like Gnonto ready to go."
A team for all countiespublished at 13:12 29 January
13:12 29 January
Jonny Buchan, sports editor BBC Radio Leeds
Leeds fans are everywhere, right? Well that is what we have set out to find on ‘Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet’.
We have asked listeners to contact us as we search for a supporter in every English region. In return we will send a t-shirt to one listener in every county as they become our representative.
There are 48 counties, have we found a fan in each one? Tune into our Deadline Day Live show this Thursday from 10pm on BBC Radio Leeds to find out!
