Good call
Sending Bate to play football in a lower division helps him develop as a midfield player by giving him important first-team experience.
His versatility and general skill set are improved by his exposure to various playing philosophies and levels of toughness in lower leagues.
Leeds must, meanwhile, closely monitor Bate’s Elland Road contract.
Since his contract is about to expire in the summer, keeping an eye on things is essential to avoiding the possibility of losing him to a free transfer.
Leeds can monitor his development and involvement at MK Dons to determine whether he is continuing to progress as predicted.
By taking this proactive stance, the club will be able to make well-informed decisions on Bate’s future, whether it is through contract extension negotiations or preparations for his first-team integration.
A contract extension must be close since the club would not want to miss out on him for free after signing him from Chelsea, where he had great potential.
In related developments:
Leeds United is not what Amad Diallo needs right now:
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This month, the Manchester United prospect has been connected to a loan move to the Championship; nevertheless, a move to Elland Road might not be appropriate.
Amad Diallo of Manchester United is still gaining interest following his January loan move, and several Championship teams are eager to sign him.
Leeds United was the most recent team reportedly interested in signing the Ivory Coast international, with Middlesbrough, Southampton, and Sunderland also reportedly in the running for the 21-year-old, according to the Daily Mirror (via MOT Leeds News).
The Whites have already strengthened their squad this term, but it’s unclear whether Daniel Farke will have much money to spend on additions after a busy summer.
| Leeds United – 2023/24 Signings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player Name | Signed From | Loan/Permanent |
| Joel Piroe | Swansea City | Permanent |
| Ethan Ampadu | Chelsea | Permanent |
| Ilia Gruev | Werder Bremen | Permanent |
| Glen Kamara | Rangers | Permanent |
| Djed Spence | Tottenham | Loan |
| Karl Darlow | Newcastle United | Permanent |
| Sam Byram | Norwich City | Permanent |
| Jaidon Anthony | AFC Bournemouth | Loan |
| Joe Rodon | Tottenham | Loan |
According to The Daily Mail, Leeds didn’t really need Diallo during this window, so why are the Red Devils willing to let him go on loan this month?
In his pre-game press conference, Farke voiced his opinions, noting that the Whites still haven’t signed a player in January.
Leeds United may concentrate on other elements of their team.
While Farke has a wealth of offensive alternatives at his disposal, Diallo would be an amazing signing and a crucial asset for the Whites in their quest to secure automatic promotion.
Players with impressive seasons this year include Joel Piroe, Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter, Daniel James, and Patrick Bamford, who between them have scored 39 goals in all competitions.
| Leeds United attacking players’ statistics this season | |||
| Apps | Goals | Minutes played | |
| Crysencio Summerville | 25 | 12 | 2005 |
| Joel Piroe | 25 | 9 | 1945 |
| Daniel James | 27 | 9 | 1874 |
| Georginio Rutter | 27 | 5 | 2260 |
| Patrick Bamford | 19 | 3 | 457 |
| Data sourced from Transfermarket, accurate as of January 20th | |||
They could need to add players to their center-back position if others depart, and their right-back position currently appears a touch thin. These are the two positions they would most likely prefer to enhance.
Would Amad Diallo be a good signing for Leeds United
Although the 21-year-old would be a valuable addition to Farke’s squad, it’s unclear how he would fit in with Leeds.
Having already discussed the abundance of attacking options at Elland Road, they also have Joe Gelhardt, who has been linked to a move away from Elland Road during the January transfer window, and Jaidon Anthony, who was signed from Bournemouth on loan in the summer but has primarily been used as a substitute and has only scored once, in reserve.
A player of Diallo’s caliber needs consistent playing time, and it seems like Manchester United would require that from a loan transfer in order to support Diallo’s ongoing growth and possible advancement at Old Trafford. At Elland Road, he might not get those minutes.
There may be some risk involved in the deal given his history of injuries this season and on his loan at Sunderland, but if he signs with a direct play-off competitor during the window, Farke may look back on it as a missed opportunity as the season goes on.
