Leeds United transfer news: Emi Buendia twists, Louie Barry, Willy Gnonto update | OneFootball

All the latest transfer news and headlines coming out of Elland Road regarding Leeds United.

Leeds United are vying for automatic promotion for the second consecutive season in the Championship, with Daniel Farke's side hoping to better 2023/24's disappointment, and January's transfer window could be key to that.

Despite enjoying a fine season and clocking up a point tally that would ordinarily win a club automatic promotion, Leeds had to plan their next steps for the season carefully in the Championship after missing out on promotion to the top flight both automatically and via the play-offs.

Plenty of players left the club again this summer. However, despite having just missed out on automatic promotion, there remained optimism that the club could be strong again this season, with Championship competition perhaps less fierce at the top end of the division when looking at the teams that had gone up and come down.

That hasn't proven to be the case thus far, with a competitive title race heating up with every game. Leeds' showdown with Burnley proved just how high the stakes are this season. However, they have yet to make an addition in the market, while their promotion rivals continue to improve their squads.

Now, with the window closing in less than a week, and teams around Leeds strengthening, the Whites will be identifying the remaining week as an opportunity to source additional bodies, depth, and quality. They cannot afford to be totally inactive in the market as it could be pivotal in shaping the second half of the campaign.

So, in the meantime, with a huge final week ahead for Farke and the Leeds hierarchy, here we have taken a look at some of the latest transfer news and the biggest headlines coming out of the club.

Emi Buendia updates emerge

The Whites face fresh competition in the race to sign Emi Buendia from Aston Villa, with Bayer Leverkusen now weighing up a potential move, according to German journalist Florian Plettenberg. The Bundesliga champions are said to be eyeing a loan deal for the playmaker.

It was reported earlier this month by the Yorkshire Evening Post that Buendia is a player that Leeds have a longstanding interest in signing, including during this month. The Argentine has featured just 12 times in the Premier League this year, with all 12 appearances coming as a substitute, and a switch away from Villa could be on the cards.

A twist then offered faint hope to Leeds. That's because Plettenburg has since outlined that Buendia is not Leverkusen's first-choice option, with Man City's James McAtee the favourite option to join the club before the deadline.

However, one further twist followed yesterday evening, with Plettenburg revealing that Xabi Alonso's side had agreed a deal for Buendia.

Hull City close in on Louie Barry

Hull City look set to beat a host of Championship rivals to the loan signing of Leeds-linked Louie Barry, according to reports. It is believed that a number of sides in the second tier had been keeping tabs on his performances in League One ahead of a possible move this January.

Sheffield Wednesday are among them, but there have also been reports previously claiming that Middlesbrough and Leeds were among the clubs who were hoping to bring the attacker in. He is now nearing a move to the Championship and Ruben Selles' side instead.

Darren Witcoop outlined their confidence in securing his services, while BBC Radio Humberside journalist James Hoggarth reporting on Barry’s imminent move to the MKM Stadium.

Willy Gnonto exit talk grows

Leeds are now said to be open to offers for versatile attacker Willy Gnonto as the winter transfer deadline approaches, according to journalist Justin Allen.

Allen, writing in the print edition of The Sun [27 January, Goals pull-out pg 10], claims that Leeds are now open to selling Gnonto amid links with a move to Saudi Arabia recently.

In the report it is claimed that a “financially lucrative” move to the Saudi League could be on the cards for the Italian this month, with Gnonto falling out of favour recently and coming off the bench in the majority of games over the last two months due to the form of Dan James and Manor Solomon.