Leeds United

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Image source, Rex Features

Fresh off the back of the biggest league win for more than half a century after beating Cardiff 7-0, Leeds United next go to Frank Lampard's Coventry City on Wednesday.

United lead the Championship by two points from Sheffield United, who like all of the promotion rivals have strengthened in the transfer window, but Leeds are the exception.

Here are some of the takeaways from Daniel Farke's pre-match press conference...

• How does he reflect on the window?

"I predicted a quiet window and that's how it turned out.

"The main headline from our window is I trust our group.

"We are top after two thirds of the season. This group has managed this and I do not know why they cannot continue."

• How difficult was it to reject a £10m plus offer reportedly from Real Betis for Mateo Joseph?

"Once you are top, it has two effects for the window. Your players attract other clubs and it's difficult to improve your own squad.

"This was important - to block all interest in our players and for that I am happy."

• Farke was adamant that transfer business should not be done just because of the mania which surrounds deadline day and worrying about what other clubs are doing.

"I never ruled out a lucky addition, but none of the targets ticked the boxes (cost, character & capability).

• Are you vulnerable in terms of numbers in the striker area, especially if there are injuries?

"We have a striker outstanding at this level for four years in Piroe.

"We have Mateo, let's assume the rumours were right with offers for double figures. That is a sign of his quality. Important, top striker. I also value Patrick Bamford."

• What is the injury news?

"Only Patrick Bamford (hamstring) is unavailable."

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

Image source, Rex Features

Leeds scored seven goals in a league game last Saturday for the first time since 1972 and are currently on their longest unbeaten run in 15 years. This sparkling form looks to have ensured the club felt there was no desperate need to bring in anyone at the end of a quiet January transfer window.

The Whites have looked the best team in the Championship under Daniel Farke. But there are still areas of weakness, and with billionaire owners, plenty of room to spend under financial obligations, and rivals improving, there were few of the normal constraints during transfer periods.

With the loss of Georginio Rutter in the summer, Joe Gelhardt allowed to join Hull on loan, and the injury to Patrick Bamford, United are short of depth in both the number nine and 10 positions.

A few more injuries in those areas and Farke would be experimenting with wingers or youth players.

The club were working on a deal for Cameron Archer, but Southampton were unmoved. There were seemingly no serious moves for a goalkeeper or a backup centre-back.

Perhaps Leeds won't suffer any injuries from now until the end of the season, but it seems very risky to rely on chance.

Despite having double the goal difference of the next best team, there is only a five-point gap to third. Leeds' rivals have strengthened and the margin for error has narrowed.

By any metric, Leeds should get promoted, and if they do, they will need a massive summer transfer window to compete in the Premier League - but they have to get there first.

If they do not get promoted, United might regret not doing business this January.

Leeds will seek to extend their lead at the top of the Championship when they visit Coventry on Wednesday night (19:45 GMT).

Whites are on a 13-match unbeaten run in all competitions, last suffering defeat in November, but the Sky Blues are aiming for a fifth straight win in the league which would take them level on points with the play-off places.

• Coventry City have won both of their past two home league games against Leeds United, and will be looking to win three in succession for the first time since September 1981.

• Leeds United have lost just three of their past 21 league games against Coventry City (W11 D7), though all three of those defeats have come away from home.

• Coventry remain unbeaten at home in the Championship under Frank Lampard in six matches (W4 D2), the longest unbeaten start at home in the league by a manager at the club since Jimmy Hill in 1961-62 (first 7).

• Leeds United have kept a clean sheet in three of their past four away league games, just one fewer than their opening 10 Championship matches on the road this term (4).

• Since losing each of his first three managerial games against Leeds United in all competitions from August 2018 to May 2019, Coventry's Frank Lampard has since won three of his last four against the Whites (D1).

Leeds did not make any signings on Transfer Deadline Day, but the 7-0 thumping of Cardiff last time out suggests things are pretty rosy at Elland Road.

Would you have liked to have seen more business on Monday, or are you happy with the squad as it is?

Have your say by clicking here.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Rex Features

Leeds United turned down a £10m bid from Real Betis for striker Mateo Joseph over the weekend.

The 21-year-old is deemed too important to be let go by the Yorkshire club, but the situation was likely also partly impacted by the club's inability to secure the services of Southampton striker Cameron Archer.

Sources close to Betis said that Cucho Hernandez was the La Liga club's main target as their talks to sign the Columbus Crew forward near a conclusion.

Later on tonight Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix will guide you through the final hours of the January transfer window for Leeds United.

The programme runs from 22:00 GMT to 00:00.

Click here to tune in.

Image source, Rex Features

Leeds United attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson has praised team-mate Mateo Joseph after the Whites' emphatic 7-0 win against Cardiff City on Saturday.

The 24-year-old American international scored the opening goal in the demolition at Elland Road and, after the game, Aaronson commended Joseph's work ethic after the striker ended a spell of 18 games without a goal in the league.

"For Mateo, he's one of my good friends first of all, he's a young kid and it's tough," Aaronson told BBC Radio Leeds.

"Players go through that, strikers go through that, but the thing that I know about Mateo is he's so hungry, he wants to keep working.

"He's got a huge future ahead of him so hopefully this is a turning point for him but he has to stay hungry and keep doing what he is doing."

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke was delighted by his team's refusal to rest on their laurels as they demolished Cardiff City 7-0 to stay two points clear at the top of the Championship.

"After a win always relief, but winning with such an impressive scoreline makes it more special," Farke told BBC Radio Leeds.

"We have said this league is relentless and to succeed you need to become relentless yourselves and that is more or less what we have shown.

"What I liked a lot about this performance is in the last 20 minutes when we were 4-0 and 5-0 up we still had the desire to sprint back and press and defend the clean sheet and also the intention to create more chances and to score further goals. We could perhaps have scored even a few more.

"A day like this, it doesn't come along that often, especially in this league, so you have to enjoy this."

Leeds - who were only one goal short of equalling their club record 8-0 league win over Leicester City in 1934 - now have a chance to stretch their lead over Sheffield United in Wednesday's away game against Coventry City.

"We don't underestimate this league, or underestimate that their could be injuries, dips in form, so for that, you need a good group and we have a good group and they deserve all the praise," added Farke.

Leeds will seek to get back to winning ways after the stalemate at Burnley as they welcome Cardiff to Elland Road on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Bluebirds are 18th, four points ahead of the drop-zone, while Whites have a two-point cushion over second-placed Sheffield United.

• Leeds United have won each of their past two league games against Cardiff City and will be looking to win three in succession against the Welsh side for the first time since September 2016.

• Cardiff City have lost just one of their past 13 away league games against Leeds United (W7 D5), a 1-0 loss at Elland Road in November 2015.

• Leeds are unbeaten in their past 11 Championship matches (W7 D4), and have kept a clean sheet in each of their past three – they last managed four consecutive shutouts in the competition in January/February 2024 (a run of five).

• Cardiff have won just one of their past 16 away league games (D8 L7), though the Bluebirds have scored exactly two goals in five of their last six outings on the road.

• Since the start of last season, Dan James has been directly involved in 23 goals in 33 league appearances at Elland Road (16 goals, seven assists); the most of any Leeds player in this period.

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Image source, Rex Features

As Leeds United prepare to welcome Cardiff City in the Championship on Saturday (15:00 GMT), Daniel Farke held his pre-match press conference. Here are the highlights:

• Defender Pascal Struijk (hamstring) is in contention to return. Striker Patrick Bamford (hamstring) remains out and defender Max Wober (knee) is a doubt.

• Farke would not be drawn on links to Southampton forward Cameron Archer but reiterated "we stay awake in the striker position" as well as for a number 10 and a centre-back. However, it seems clear having a near-fully fit squad is a bonus at this stage and means there is no need to panic in the window.

• Farke added: "Checked my phone, but in six hours, nothing happened. Jokes aside, I am honest. I am not a big friend of this window - options are limited or overpriced. It can be risky to add someone to a team playing this well."

• On the process of recruitment, Farke said: "The scouting and recruitment departments bring the available options, then it's up to me to see who fits. If I like his character or his quality, then our key people decide if we can afford them. Everyone chips in with their individual network too."

• Farke also says he does not expect any of his squad to leave before the window shuts.

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

"It's his presence and the way people talk about him. He lives in our imagination as much as he does in reality."

That's how Leeds Playhouse artistic director James Brining eulogises former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa and how the Argentine affected the club and the city.

"He had an aura about him that I do not see in any other football manager. He has a different quality."

Bielsa has been gone from Elland Road for almost three years. His body of work and other-worldly way, you feel, will resonate forever around these parts.

Brining wants to make sure it is remembered and reinvigorated in his new production being premiered in Leeds this June - Through It All Together.

The play, written by Chris O'Connor, is about a fictional couple, Howard and Sue, massive Leeds fans, one of whom is living with dementia.

• Listen to Adam Pope's full interview with Brining and O'Connor here

"I'm trying to reflect the city and how many different aspects of that city went on a journey during Bielsa's era," explains O'Connor, an avid Leeds fan himself.

"I'm always unsure how football translates on stage. It's hard to do well and I've also wanted to write something about dementia. I have a close family member who lives with it."

Image source, Getty Images

For Brining, Bielsa's influence was omnipresent: "What he is and was is something beyond that (football). What he did was about reframing what a club could be in relation to its fans and its city.

"He demonstrated that fairly modest Championship players could play in the Premier League and excel because of belief, teamwork, the values he instilled in them and the culture that he created."

After the premiere in Leeds this summer, ideally after another promotion, the duo have high hopes to see the play go on tour.

"First and foremost you want to write entertaining stories," adds O'Connor. "But I'd like some people to maybe feel differently about dementia. And I'd like people to relive memories we all had when Leeds got promoted."

As for Bielsa himself, Brining says they will reach out and let him know he has inspired the play. Brining missed Bielsa when he visited the Playhouse with his family during his tenure at the club.

Shortly afterwards he wrote to the artistic director to say how much he enjoyed the experience: "The theatre is important for people's souls. I love what you are doing and together we are doing the same sort of thing."

In his own humble way I think he will approve from the wings with a "Very good, Brining!"

Through It All Together runs at the Leeds Playhouse from 23 June to 19 July.

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds are targeting a move for Southampton striker Cameron Archer with early talks having taken place.

It is unclear whether a deal can be achieved but the 23-year-old is open to a move before deadline day.

Other options are believed to be on the table as Archer seeks a guaranteed starting role after increasingly finding himself on the bench under recently appointed Saints manager Ivan Juric.

Leeds are set to sign Newcastle left-back Matt Targett, with Junior Firpo out of contract at the end of the season. (Northern Echo), external

Whites boss Daniel Farke could get a transfer fund boost by selling Sonny Perkins to Leyton Orient and Rasmus Kristensen to Eintracht Frankfurt. (Leeds Live), external

Middlesbrough's move for former Leeds midfielder Glen Kamara could be off, with the Finland international, who has also been linked with Sunderland and Burnley, now reportedly ready to move to Saudi side Al Shabab. (Northern Echo, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column.

Leeds United remain two points clear at the top of the Championship after Monday's goalless draw at promotion rivals Burnley.

Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix reflect on the result and whether it's a well earned point on the road.

Episode 138 of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet is out now and you can find it on the BBC Sounds app or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Leeds United are eyeing a late move to sign 19-year-old Red Bull Salzburg winger Adam Daghim in this transfer window but face competition from Leicester and Brentford. (Daily Mail), external

Leyton Orient attacker Sonny Perkins, 20, is set to make his loan move from Leeds permanent before the end of the January transfer window. (LeedsLive), external

Want more transfer news and rumours from the EFL? Read Wednesday's gossip column here.

Image source, Opta

Monday's uneventful goalless draw between Burnley and Leeds produced the second lowest expected goals [xG] of any Championship match so far this season.

According to Opta, Burnley's four attempts in total added up to an xG of 0.18 while Leeds' eight shots equated to 0.35 xG, creating a total match xG of just 0.53 across the 90 minutes at Turf Moor.

Dan James' 89th-minute strike, which had to be tipped over by Burnley's James Trafford, prevented the stalemate from being the first second-tier clash to end without an effort on target this season.

Despite the drab affair, Luton's 0-0 draw with Preston in Matt Bloomfield's first match in charge of the Hatters earlier this month produced an xG even lower than Monday's top-of-the-table clash - just 0.49 from 11 shots in total.

Notably, November's Steel City derby saw Tyrese Campbell score the winner for Sheffield United against bitter rivals Wednesday with the match's only shot on target from a game which produced a comparatively gluttonous 18 attempts in all.

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

There has been lots of - mostly justified - criticism of the style of football Leeds United have played under Daniel Farke, but after watching Burnley play for a draw from the first minute on Monday night at Turf Moor, Leeds fans can be happy they don't have to watch Scott Parker's side every week.

Burnley have the best defensive record at this stage of a season in the history of professional football in England. It seems to be due to an unwillingness to attack.

It was absolutely vital the Whites didn't lose against their promotion rivals. In a campaign this tight, and with others at the top dropping points over the weekend, the three-point gap to third had to be protected.

But in the Premier League, defending of Burnley's quality will be closer to the rule than a historical exception, and should Leeds get promoted they will need to find an exceptional attacking talisman who can make a moment to win the day in these kinds of attritional battles.

Raphinha and Pablo Hernandez were players built for big games against resolute defences.

Pablo against Swansea, Raphinha against Everton, or against Brentford when he sparked the fightback and ended up in the crowd and walking the length of the pitch on his knees for Leeds United.

There was no-one who threatened that kind of moment on Monday.

Farke and Parker sit second and third for points-per-game accrued in the Championship, and despite United's attacking statistics, Farke is more defensive than the manager who sits top of that list - Marcelo Bielsa.

If you're not going to have an attacking style like Bielsa, then you will need exceptional talent to tip the balance of tight games, and Leeds will be looking for an exceptional talent in the summer.

Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock, external

Leeds United have enquired about the availability of Newcastle United defender Matt Targett with the Magpies ready to consider bids for the 29-year-old left-back. (The Athletic - subscription required), external

The Whites are also keen on a surprise move for former Liverpool and Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose playing time has been limited at Turkish club Besiktas. (The Sun), external

Want more transfer news and rumours from the EFL? Read Tuesday's gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke says central defender Pascal Struijk is close to returning to first-team training after missing the previous four league matches.

The 25-year-old started all but one of Leeds' Championship games this season before sustaining a hamstring injury which had threatened to rule him out for several months.

However, following his side's 0-0 draw at Burnley on Monday, Farke was more upbeat about Struijk's chances of returning to the side in the near future.

"I hope we can involve him at some point during this week in training," Farke told BBC Radio Leeds.

"We don't have that much time between the games, before the Cardiff game, but I hope that he will be back in training.

"Then we will see a bit closer to the game at what point he will be available for selection, or at least be able to sit on the bench."