With the January transfer window now upon us, Leeds United like most clubs in the Championship will be considering how they can strengthen for the second half of the season.
The Whites are currently outsiders for the automatic promotion places as they trail second-placed Ipswich Town by seven points and currently sit fourth in the table behind Southampton after a poor run over the festive period.
A number of names have already been linked with the switch to Elland Road, but just as interestingly some players have already been tipped to depart Daniel Farke’s side during the January transfer window.
One name linked with a potential exit is veteran right-back, Luke Ayling, with reports emerging that Middlesbrough are considering making a move for the 32-year-old during the January window [Sky Sports, 3 January].
Ayling has been little more than a bit part player for the German this season, having been heavily involved during the opening weeks of the campaign. His last start came all the way back in October and the defender hasn’t made a substitute appearance since November.
Instead, Farke has opted to start one of Archie Gray, Jamie Shackleton or Djed Spence ahead of Ayling at right-back over the last few months, with all three impressing in one way or another.
The 32-year-old’s position as fourth choice would then suggest that the Leeds United boss would have no issue allowing Ayling to depart Elland Road this summer, but Farke has repeatedly been keen to praise his impact off of the playing field.
When Ayling was left out of the Whites’ matchday squad for the clash with Swansea City, Farke gushed over his vice-captain labelling him “second to none” as a “football character and team-mate character” [BBC Sport, 30 November].
While it may be clear that he doesn’t feel the veteran defender has what it takes to feature week in and week out in his side anymore, losing such a big presence in the changing room could be a huge blow to Leeds’ promotion campaign.
Farke has worked incredibly hard to create a driven and motivated group at Elland Road and should the 49ers sanction Ayling’s exit, Farke may not be happy to lose his vice-captain midway through a season.
He may not be a regular presence on the pitch, but behind the scenes, his presence is still felt. The best call for Leeds United might be allowing him to see out his contract until the end of the season as they continue their fight towards promotion.
On top of that, Ayling’s displays early in the season showed that he can still do a job at this level. Should an injury crisis appear at Elland Road, he is more than equipped to step up and fill in if and when required.
