Daniel Farke has Leeds United flying high in the Championship, but many of the players are playing very little and will probably be playing first-team football somewhere else before the conclusion of the January transfer window.

Farke told Leeds Live last month that the Whites have no intention of offloading their top players during the January transfer window. As a result, even if they may not have been as involved from the beginning as they would have liked, players like Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville, and Georginio Rutter are probably going to be kept.

Additionally, it suggests that players like Junior Firpo—who is still regarded as a key member of the first squad despite a history of injuries—are likely to stay in West Yorkshire.

A lot of players were sent on loan by Leeds, partly because of contract stipulations; therefore, the club had a busy summer window with many arrivals to make up for their losses. This time around, Farke and company might be hoping for a slightly less tumultuous January.

After allowing Sam Greenwood to join Middlesbrough on loan during the summer, Leeds may approve the departure of other periphery players who don’t get much playing time.

They have already begun to do so, as evidenced by the addition of Greenwood at the Riverside to fan favourite Luke Ayling, and Dark Gyabi to Plymouth Argyle in order to further his senior experience.

Which other players, who have already seen the team through well into January, are most likely to go in the upcoming weeks? Here, we examine every individual whose near future is located outside of Elland Road.

Charlie Cresswell

As interested clubs swarm to sign the defender, Farke recently opened up about Cresswell’s “frustration” at not getting enough playing time at the team. The Athletic’s Phil Hay revealed prior to Leeds’ match against Cardiff City that the manager is aware he must decide on the current state of affairs involving Cresswell.

Several Championship teams have expressed interest in the defender, and Farke has intimated that Cresswell isn’t “mentally ready” for greater playing time with the Whites just yet.

 

Joe Gelhardt

Joe Gelhardt is a player who hasn’t received regular playing time this season, but he may have expected more engagement. The 21-year-old is incredibly talented, but he hasn’t really made many starts for Farke. It’s possible that he will try to leave the team on loan again this month.

Gelhardt’s recent stint with Sunderland may not have gone as well as he had hoped, but he still needs to play frequently at this critical juncture in his development. In terms of getting the minutes he needs, his standing in the hierarchy is not ideal.

Leo Hjelde

Hjelde, who grew nicely during his second-half season on loan in the second tier, is currently having trouble getting traction. Many would have had an opportunity to play under Farke, and the former loanee from Rotherham United may have wasted it when he was substituted off during halftime of their opening-day 2-2 draw at home against Cardiff City.

Given his adaptability within Leeds’ limited defensive ranks, a loan extension is probably in the works for the young Leeds player again, though it might come at the end of the window. For the time being, however, he is worth having around.