Leeds United did not add any new players to their squad to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch on deadline day before the summer transfer window officially slammed shut.
That was despite the fact that Daniel Farke claimed that it would be “difficult” for the club to avoid relegation from the Premier League if they did not add more quality to their frontline.
The German head coach was clear that he wanted more recruits to improve his options in the final third to give his side the best chances of avoiding the drop back down to the Championship.
Unfortunately, the club were unable to deliver on what the manager wanted. The Athletic’s Beren Cross has since reported that the club felt that there were not many wingers on the market who were better than Daniel James and Wilfried Gnonto, who scored four goals combined in their last season in the Premier League.
Despite that claim from sources inside the club, it was well-reported that Leeds were interested in a deal to sign Harry Wilson from Fulham on deadline day.
Why missing out on Harry Wilson was a blow for Leeds
The Championship champions reportedly agreed a deal with the Cottagers to sign the Wales international by meeting their asking price on the final day of the window.
However, Fulham then had a late change of mind and opted to keep the left-footed star at Craven Cottage, which left the Whites with little time to find an alternative before the window slammed shut.
Ultimately, Leeds should have known that they needed another option on the right wing the second they were promoted to the Premier League, given James’ aforementioned struggles in the division in the past, so there cannot be too much sympathy given to them for missing out on Wilson on deadline day.
However, it was a blow to miss out on the winger at the time because it then left the club without enough time to source a replacement before the window closed, and it was a blow because Wilson is a quality player who could have been an excellent signing.
Appearances
35
25
xG
3.38
4.21
Goals
4
6
Big chances created
5
2
Key passes per game
0.7
0.8
Assists
6
1
As you can see in the table above, the Welsh wizard is a proven Premier League performer who has delivered ten goals and seven assists in the last two seasons, outperforming his xG in both campaigns.
Given that James has never scored more than four goals in a Premier League season in his career, Wilson’s tally of six in the top-flight last term suggests that he could have been an upgrade on what Farke currently has at his disposal.
Given Farke’s claim that it will be difficult for Leeds to avoid the drop without any additions to the frontline, the club must now consider looking into the free agent market, as they did around this time last year with the signing of Josuha Guilavogui to bolster their midfield.
There are some interesting names in the free agent pool, including recently released former Leeds striker Patrick Bamford, and one player who could fit the bill for the Whites is Hakim Ziyech.
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The Morocco international is a reported transfer target for Spanish side Elche, after leaving Al Duhail earlier this summer, and Leeds should now push to convince him to make a move back to the Premier League this season.
Why Leeds should sign Hakim Ziyech
The West Yorkshire outfit should attempt to sign Ziyech on a free transfer as an alternative to Wilson because it is clear that they need an addition to their options in that position.
James’ historical struggles in the Premier League and his poor start to the current campaign, with zero goals and zero ‘big chances’ created, suggest that he is not going to be the answer to their attacking woes any time soon.
Bringing in Ziyech, who is vastly experienced at the top level, on a free transfer could be a shrewd and relatively low-risk move that could pay off big time for Farke and his side.
The 32-year-old star has played over 200 Eredivisie matches, over 60 games in the Premier League, and 45 times in the Champions League, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has had a fantastic career and proven himself in big competitions.
Ziyech, as you can see in the clip above, showed signs of quality during his time with Premier League giants Chelsea, with this stunning strike against Spurs arguably the individual highlight of his spell at Stamford Bridge.
Appearances
23
23
18
Starts
15
14
6
Goals
2
4
0
Big chances created
6
9
6
Key passes per game
1.5
1.3
0.8
Assists
3
3
3
As you can see in the table above, the Moroccan wizard delivered an eye-catching return of 21 ‘big chances’ created in 35 league starts for the Blues.
James, meanwhile, has created 16 ‘big chances’ in 109 appearances in the Premier League, per Sofascore, for Manchester United, Fulham, and Leeds combined, which shows that he does not offer anywhere near as much creative quality as Ziyech.
The former Ajax star, whose touch was hailed as “extraordinary” by Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk, also scored 79 goals in 216 Eredivisie games earlier in his career, per Transfermarkt, which means that he can also offer a goal threat when given regular game time.
At the age of 32, Ziyech may not be at the peak of his powers or a signing that would be as exciting as it would have been five years ago, but he is still at a stage where he can contribute at the top end of the pitch and provide a touch of class that Farke’s side are clearly lacking.
The Whites clearly wanted a left-footed right-wing option, given the interest in Wilson, and the Morocco international could be a dream alternative option now that the club are restricted to free agents.
