Leeds strategy that could ‘backfire’ picked apart as pundit updates relegation picks

Leeds United have been warned they are taking a gamble by not reinforcing their squad in the January transfer window.

No new players came through the entrance door at Elland Road in January. Their only signing was Mateo Joseph Fernandez for the under-23 side. At senior level, Marcelo Bielsa will be seeing out the season with the same squad he started 2022 with.

Bielsa reportedly did not want to add players to his squad that would not improve on what he already had. He was not looking for further depth options.

Some have raised concerns about the strategy given Leeds’ injury issues in the first half of the season. They have a perceived lack of depth in central midfield and centre-forward.

Still with a seven-point cushion over the relegation places, Leeds should be safe but are not away from danger just yet. And if injuries strike again, their lack of January activity may come back to bite them.

That is the opinion of their former striker Robbie Fowler, who believes Leeds’ strategy could “backfire”.

Fowler wrote for the Daily Mirror: “No signings when you have key players injured? You’re gambling on fitness, which is never wise.

“That could backfire.”

Still, the pundit did not predict Leeds United to be one of the three sides to be relegated by the end of the season.

He opined: “My three to go down [are] Burnley, ­Norwich, Watford.”

Indeed, while Fowler thinks Leeds are gambling by not adding to their squad, he conceded that any new signing could have come with an element of risk too.

Although he praised relegation-threatened Newcastle for their spending, for example, Fowler thinks it will not be a good look if the signings do not help them complete the necessary task.

Fowler said: “It was fascinating to see what ­happened