It’s fair to say that most supporters are expecting Leeds United to have a quiet January transfer window.
Everything we’ve seen and heard from the 49ers previously suggests they don’t like to conduct business midway through the season unless they can help it.
So whilst one of their long-term targets, Bilal El Khannouss, is reportedly available in January, it is unlikely a potential move would materialise until the summer, you would imagine.
Now, the 49ers’ stance on a major Leeds United transfer decision in January has been revealed.
Leeds unlikely to terminate Jean-Matteo Bahoya’s loan in January
When we signed Jean-Matteo Bahoya on deadline day with an obligation to buy for £25.7million should he make a certain number of appearances, it looked as if the 21-year-old Frenchman would be the natural backup for Noah Okafor.
Whether that was coming on for Okafor when he is inevitably subbed off. Or starting games if the Swiss winger picks up an injury.
But this certainly hasn’t been the case so far. Bahoya has made just three Leeds appearances and racked up a total of 11 minutes.
In that brief time, we have seen him on the right wing and even at right wing-back. Rarely has he popped up on the left.
In a press conference last month, Daniel Farke made the controversial claim that he views Bahoya as a young prospect on the fringes of the squad. As opposed to a player who is capable of making an impact in the here and now.
When the likes of Dan James and Brenden Aaronson are getting more minutes than Bahoya, plenty of United supporters find this hard to justify.
But despite his rough start to life in West Yorkshire, Leeds Live’s Isaac Johnson does not believe that Bahoya’s loan will be cancelled as a result of his lack of game time.
In a recent Q&A on Leeds Live, Johnson said, “Personally, I agree with what Farke had to say and the stance he is taking. Albeit 11 minutes of action is very limited. As for whether his loan gets cancelled in January, I don’t think so.
“It would just leave another hole in an already small squad. And Farke, who has watched him more than anyone else at Leeds, does like Bahoya. He would not have joined the club if he didn’t.”
I heavily doubt Jean-Matteo Bahoya will be at Leeds next season
Unless things drastically change, I cannot see Bahoya being at Leeds next season.
Personally, I think Farke will purposely keep Bahoya just under the number of appearances required to make his loan move a permanent one next season.
Why would the 49ers commit £25.7million to a player whom Farke evidently does not trust to come off the bench, never mind start?
As a club, we’re not in a position to be spending that much on players who do not play. We need players for the here and now.
For me, our forward line is our weakest area. So if Bahoya can’t even get a kick now, then that says a lot about him.
Unless he develops rapidly over the second half of the season, we’d be better off letting him return to Frankfurt. Then we could reallocate those funds to bring in another winger instead.
Farke is not able to make young players better. I would like a new manager in stead of Farke.