The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 31st January) - Saints turn down Cameron Archer approach
Good Morning. It's Friday 31st January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Saints turn down Archer approach
Southampton have turned down Leeds United's loan approach for striker Cameron Archer. Since arriving at St Mary's five months ago, the £15m capture has amassed a thousand minutes of game time over ten starts - but has found the back of the net just twice! Incredibly, this makes him their joint leading scorer, such are the troubles for the South Coast outfit.
While talkSPORT announced the initial rejection, it appears the door might not be completely closed. Reports suggest Archer himself is open to a move to Elland Road, and has expressed his desire for more game time. Barring a miracle of Biblical proportions, Southampton's fate has already been decided with or without Cameron Archer!
Could Joseph lead the line if Piroe were to get injured?
Currently, Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph have been vying for the starting striker role, with Patrick Bamford battling persistent injury woes on the sidelines. The worry for Leeds is the fragility of their attacking depth. Should Piroe succumb to injury, can the youthful Joseph shoulder the burden of responsibility to lead the line?
Despite flashes of brilliance in pre-season, the 21yo has shown he is nowhere near ready to lead a promotion push. If we were honest with ourselves, he should be sent out on loan this month to develop, build strength and regain his confidence ahead of next season. He has scored just twice in 1132 minutes of game time, and slipped to 20th in Daniel Farke's roster with a disappointing 6.41 rating.
Bamford's return from his latest injury has now been set for March, dependent on a perfect recovery. He's managed but 123 minutes of game time all season, and should not be relied upon in any way, shape of form.
Would new recruits unsettle the ER dressing room
Are Leeds actually that much better than Sheffield Utd and Burnley that they only need to fill two voids in their loan allocations?
Daniel Farke talks of wanting to avoid an unsettled dressing room, but if competition for places are going to disrupt the team spirit, it surely raises alarming question marks regarding his man management skills! His players earn an average of £29,813 a week, or just under £130,000 a month, over three times more than most in the Championship - and as such, are being paid handsomely to take the rough with the smooth!