"Not an ideal situation" - Pundit reacts as Leeds United plot move for ex-Arsenal player | OneFootball

The Whites are scouring the free agent market after suffering an injury crisis in midfield

Ex-Leeds United man Carlton Palmer believes Leeds United have no option but to delve into the free agent market to bolster their midfield options until the end of the calendar year.

The Whites have been struck by two huge blows in the season so far, with Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu both said to be ruled out until January with injury issues, leaving them light of options in the middle of the park.

While a reported deal for former Nottingham Forest man Cheikhou Kouyate is said to have fallen through after concerns during the player’s medical at Elland Road, attention is now said to have turned towards former Arsenal man Francis Coquelin, according to a report from The Sun earlier this week.

With the 33-year-old currently without a club following his release from Villarreal in June, and Palmer is confident that any free agent looking to earn themselves a deal could add something to the Whites’ midfield in the months to come.

Leeds United injury issues leave Daniel Farke scouring free agent market

United boss Daniel Farke has been left with no choice but to search for unsigned talent at this point of the season, with Gruev and Ampadu both reportedly ruled out for the foreseeable future with their respective setbacks.

AFC Bournemouth loanee Joe Rothwell and summer signing Ao Tanaka are currently the pair trusted with pulling the strings in the middle of the park, although the Yorkshire outfit look light in terms of depth as it stands, with teenage talent Charlie Crew waiting in the wings.

As a result, Palmer sees no other option than to opt for a player who has likely been without a club since the end of the previous campaign, although a short-term deal could be of the benefit to all parties.

The former Elland Road favourite said: “With Leeds United already having a small squad, the long-term injuries to [Ethan] Ampadu and [Ilia] Gruev are forcing Leeds United manager Daniel Farke to look at the free agent market.

“It is not an ideal situation when players have been released by a club and have still not been snapped up at this moment in time, but Leeds obviously feel that the injuries to Ampadu and Gruev are going to be long-term, at least until Christmas.

“So there are so many games between now and then, that Daniel Farke has admitted he is looking in the free agent market, to bring in an experienced player who can play and also assist the young players, in their quest to get promotion this season.

“One player they are looking at is French defensive midfield Francis Coquelin, who was released by Villarreal in June.

“Daniel Farke has admitted that he has had several players training at Thorpe Park, with one of them being the ex-West Ham United man Cheikhou Kouyate, and he said he is hopeful and quietly confident that they will be able to bring in some reinforcements to help them.”

Leeds United need to act quickly to solve injury crisis

With a crunch match against Sheffield United coming up this Friday, there is no respite for Leeds, as they look to step up their efforts in returning to the Premier League this season.

Having missed out in the play-offs in the previous campaign, the Elland Road outfit will want to build on their strong start to the season, although any more issues in the engine room could spell trouble for the months to come.

As a result, Palmer believes it is imperative to get an extra body through the door before too long, with the right arrival likely to be hungry to prove themselves in the hope of earning a long-term deal.

The former England international continued: “Obviously, it is only going to be a short-term deal, but he said they are very optimistic that they will have a solution within the coming days, that will be able to assist Leeds United.

“It is the situation they are in now, with some players out of contract and have not been snapped up.

“But if you have got the right player, who has got the right attitude, then they may be looking at it as an opportunity to come in and get a move or a contract somewhere else, so you are hoping that somebody would take it with both hands.”