“I’ve been told” – Reporter shares 49ers’ ambitious Leeds transfer plans
After being relegated from the Premier League last summer, Leeds spent the second most of any team in the Championship; only Leicester (£38 million) spent more than they did (£31 million). The Whites added nine new players to Elland Road, but they also had an expected £27 million payback from their departure, thus the club’s net spending was only £4 million. Fans of the Whites will find it inspiring as they strive for advancement.
Daniel Farke’s team has had a quiet January thus far, with the main narrative being Djed Spence’s early return to Tottenham Hotspur halfway through his loan period. There’s been nothing noteworthy to report other than Sonny Perkins being called up from Oxford United to return to Yorkshire.
Farke has previously downplayed the likelihood of a busy window at the team, but emphasised that Leeds will be on the lookout for opportunities.
“I expect a much more quiet and calm January to the last transfer period for example,” he commented. “We wish for a quiet January, but won’t fall asleep and when there are decisions to make, we will also make decisions and you never know what happens.”
Mepham a target in “ambitious” window
Based on what he’s been hearing behind the scenes, talkSPORT writer Alex Crook gave a notably different insight into Leeds’ transfer plans in an interview with GiveMeSport. He informed Whites fans that the 49ers, who aim to return to the Premier League as soon as possible, will be “ambitious” in the market.
After Spence went, Farke will want a replacement full-back. Wide player David Brooks is a known target, and Crook claims Leeds is also considering Chris Mepham, a teammate from Bournemouth.
“It’s interesting because the manager said they’re not going to do much to this window because he’s happy with his squad,” he said. “But I’ve been told by people actually they’re going to be quite ambitious. They think they’ve got a great chance of getting in the Premier League, so they’re going to go for it. You mentioned David Brooks, Chris Mepham of Bournemouth is someone else I think they admire.
“Having sent Djed Spence back, you’d have thought they’ve got a full-back lined up. So I think Leeds might be a lot more active than Daniel Farke is laying on.”
Mepham faces uncertain future
The Leeds supporters will be drawn to Mepham’s name in Crook’s update, and this would be a wise addition for the team’s promotion campaign. Mepham began his career at the Chelsea academy, played for Brentford for seven years, and then signed a £12 million contract to join Bournemouth in 2019. He signed a contract extension in the autumn of 2022, but it only lasts until the summer of 2025. As a result, he is currently in the final 18 months of his contract, and his decline in the standing will undoubtedly make his future questionable.
Mepham has only started two of the first 20 games of this season in the top division under new manager Andoni Iraola, after starting 24 games in the top level after Bournemouth’s promotion last year. Remarkably, he has started three more games in the two domestic cup competitions than any other player.
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He might take Djed Spence’s place at Elland Road.
Maybe Iraola has other possibilities in mind for his style, so rather than his being a restricted defender, he isn’t in the starting lineup. According to the statistics, Mepham is an excellent player at the fundamentals; his ranks for shots blocked (1.13), interceptions (1.82), and clearances (6.17) per ninety-minute play are in the 92nd percentile or above, indicating both his willingness to play dirty and his astute positioning. His 65.9% aerial duel success percentage is likewise significantly higher than typical for his position (73rd percentile).
Mepham, a 34-cap Welsh international, would be a seasoned and reliable addition to Leeds’ backline. He has competed for his nation in all but one of the last two major tournaments. For everyone’s benefit, a loan through the conclusion of the season makes sense.