Leeds United are currently on a good run in the Premier League.
Indeed, it wasn’t that long ago that Daniel Farke looked like he would be next in line to face the sack, as Los Blancos succumbed to four straight defeats in November.
Today, however, the reinvigorated West Yorkshire side are three matches unbeaten in this unforgiving division, with a 3-1 victory over Chelsea, a remarkable result in a December that saw much festive cheer at Elland Road.
Farke will not want his much-improved side to rest on their laurels as there is still plenty of football left to play in their bid to beat the drop, with the reopening of the January transfer window no doubt helping their chances of securing immediate safety.
Leeds mull major January decision
Leeds haven’t always been known for spending money in a January window, excluding Giorginio Rutter, but with survival on the line, that could soon change.
According to a report from Football Insider, the Whites could close a deal soon by taking on four-time Premier League champion Raheem Sterling.
Former top signing Mick Brown says the Englishman’s departure from Chelsea now appears “inevitable”.
In full, Brown said: “I understand Leeds and other Premier League teams are considering taking him. They need attacking players, and at his best he would be an improvement on what they have, it’s just a question of whether he is at his best these days.”
While the Elland Road outfit may be interested, there are obvious concerns over his immediate fitness, having been firmly placed out of the first team picture at Chelsea by Enzo Maresca.
Why Sterling could be a repeat of Calvert-Lewin
Those same issues of potential rust haven’t stopped Leeds in their hunt for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with the decision to bring in the former Everton striker – who struggled towards the latter stages of his career on Merseyside – now appearing to be an inspired move, as the number nine headed home a crucial equalizer last time out.
So could Sterling follow in the Sheffield-born striker’s footsteps, turning his own negative narrative on its head?
It’s been a very long time since Sterling was labeled a “world-class” talent in Manchester City’s books, as his former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers would term him after witnessing his explosion at the Etihad after leaving Anfield.
At his peak in Manchester, Sterling was a serial trophy winner and a key piece of Pep Guardiola’s puzzle, with a superb tally of 131 goals and 86 assists in 339 games. Today, however, he is better known for a one-goal loan spell at Arsenal and for being stuck on the outskirts of nearby Chelsea, having been dismissed as a “passenger” earlier in the year by journalist Charles Watts.
A change of scenery for the £47m man could therefore be just what Sterling needs to rekindle his fire, with Leeds potentially giving him the platform to become a first-team star again, having been generous to Calvert-Lewin in that regard.
Like Sterling, Calvert-Lewin had faced plenty of criticism during the latter stages of his Toffees career, having been noted for his “struggles” by The Athletic’s Paddy Boyland last season when only three weak goals came his way.
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DCL PL numbers for Leeds |
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|---|---|
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Statistical |
DCL |
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Games played |
14 |
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Goals |
5 |
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Goal frequency |
Every 189 minutes |
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Lens conversion |
17% |
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Statistics by Sofascore |
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Amazingly, the often injury-prone Goodison Park striker has now established himself under Farke’s wing at Leeds, with five goals for the season, in just 15 games, taking his Premier League goal tally to 62 efforts, as Calvert-Lewin continues to roll back the years.
Sterling has an impressive 123 goals to draw on himself, and it’s not out of the question to suggest that the 82-time England international could provide goals and assists in equal measure if given a chance at Elland Road, with a sublime eight goals and seven assists next to his name during the 2023/24 Championship season, when he is regularly used by the Blues.
He should be fighting for a starting spot, like Calvert-Lewin, who initially arrived injured, but if he can return to his devastating best, he would definitely find a way into Farke’s starting XI.
Capable of playing down either flank, or even as a striker option, this could be a real intention signing in January if he is successful.
His crazy £325,000-a-week salary would pose another obstacle in Leeds’ pursuit, but the 31-year-old would surely be prepared to take a hit on his wages if it meant he had a big chance of turning his fortunes around, seeing first-hand Calvert-Lewin’s spectacular recovery.
Better than Calvert-Lewin: Leeds approach to sign rich striker
Leeds United look set to make a move for a new centre-forward in the January window.
