Leeds United hasn’t added anyone to their playing roster in the two weeks that the January transfer market has been open.
The goal for Daniel Farke’s team is to return to the Premier League automatically at the first opportunity, and they might increase their chances of doing so by bolstering their roster.
The Whites are among the teams interested in a potential deal to recruit David Brooks from Bournemouth, who may be moving toward the conclusion of the window, according to journalist Alex Crook, who recently spoke with GIVEMESPORT.
By winning the race for the Wales international, Farke might now become his own version of Callum O’Hare, who over the weekend destroyed league leaders Leicester City.
Excellence in Callum O’Hare’s Championship
The Coventry star, who has scored five goals in 14 Championship games this season, scored twice for the Foxes in their 3-1 victory on Saturday.
Though he has only been designated as a starter in seven games, he has contributed one assist and 1.3 crucial passes per game to go along with his five goals.
In 46 Championship games in 2020–21, when O’Hare and Brooks were both playing at that level, the Coventry star netted three goals, provided eight assists, and created six “big chances” from midfield.
The former Aston Villa prospect has shown that he is a superb attack-minded midfielder in the second division by stepping up to contribute goals and assists, as he demonstrated so admirably against Leicester the other night.
The reasons Brooks might be Farke’s own O’Hare Brooks, who was hailed as “fantastic” by ex-boss Gary O’Neil, valiantly battled his way back to professional football after being diagnosed with stage-two Hodgkin cancer, which he was granted the all-clear from in 2022.
His development was hindered by the experience, and the muscle he lost as a result made it difficult for him to return to his peak on the field for Bournemouth.
Nonetheless, a loan transfer to Leeds—a division he is familiar with—might be the ideal chance for him to regain his footing with consistent first-team action.
Before receiving his diagnosis, Brooks scored five goals, provided six assists, and created six “big chances” in 36 second-tier appearances for the Cherries during the 2020–21 season.
The £50k-a-week wizard was also among the top 15% of his positional counterparts in the Championship for expected assisted goals (0.21) per 90 and progressive passes (4.36) per 90.
O’Hare’s stats from that season support FBref’s ranking of him as one of the division’s most similar players to Brooks, as he was likewise a highly inventive attacking midfielder.
As evidenced by the fact that the 25-year-old magician placed in the top 17% of his contemporaries for progressive passes (4.27) per 90, they both advanced from a position 10 at a comparable rate.
Farke might thus recruit his own O’Hare by signing the Bournemouth master, who, like the Coventry star, could provide goals and assists while also serving as Leeds’ creative and dynamic midfield force.
