NafisaAll of the focus around Leeds United has understandably been on the club’s plans for the final days of the transfer window, with Daniel Farke and the 49ers looking to make sure the squad is in the best possible shape before the deadline.
The Whites have already enjoyed a productive summer, choosing quality over quantity with four carefully selected additions. Harry Wilson, Tarik Muharemovic, James Trafford and Nico Elvedi have all arrived, giving Farke greater depth and quality across several areas of the team.
That recruitment has already started to pay dividends.
Leeds opened their Premier League campaign with a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground before returning to the same stadium just days later and securing a comfortable 2-0 Carabao Cup victory.
While incomings remain the priority, there is also considerable work being done behind the scenes regarding departures.
Joel Piroe has become the latest player to leave Elland Road after joining West Ham United on a loan-to-buy agreement, while Largie Ramazani remains one of the most obvious candidates to depart before the September 1 deadline.
However, the Belgian winger may not be the only attacker whose future is being discussed.
Mateo Joseph emerges as surprise Leeds United exit candidate
According to Sky Sports, Mateo Joseph is another Leeds player who could be looking for a new club before the transfer window closes.
Joseph being mentioned alongside Ramazani comes as something of a surprise, particularly given the circumstances surrounding the young striker.
The forward spent last season on loan at Mallorca and suffered an ACL injury in April, bringing his campaign to a premature end.
That injury means Joseph is currently still working his way through rehabilitation and is not in a position to immediately return to regular competitive football.
His situation therefore appears considerably different to Ramazani’s.
Ramazani has been nowhere to be seen during pre-season and has not featured prominently at the beginning of the new campaign, making his potential departure much easier to understand.
Joseph, meanwhile, remains a player Leeds have invested significant time and development into.
The striker was once regarded as one of the most promising young players coming through the club and had already attracted interest from elsewhere, including clubs in Spain.
There have also been reports of interest from Wrexham, although a move this month would appear difficult given his current fitness situation.
January could be a more realistic time for Joseph to consider his future.
Leeds have changed their approach to player sales
The possibility of Joseph leaving also highlights how different Leeds’ approach to player trading has become under the 49ers.
For years, the club were criticised for allowing unwanted players to leave on temporary deals rather than securing permanent exits.
That has changed significantly this summer.
Joe Gelhardt, Pascal Struijk, Jack Harrison, Max Wöber and Isaac Schmidt have all departed permanently, while Piroe has now moved to West Ham on a loan deal that includes a route towards a permanent transfer.
Leeds are clearly determined to streamline their squad and avoid carrying players who are unlikely to play a significant role under Farke.
Sebastiaan Bornauw is another player who could eventually leave permanently after his current loan spell, while the club continue to assess the futures of those further down the pecking order.
In that context, Joseph’s name appearing on the list of potential departures should not necessarily be interpreted as Leeds actively trying to force him out.
His injury makes the situation particularly complicated, and the club may prefer to allow him time to recover before making a final decision.
Ramazani remains the more obvious departure
If Leeds are going to sanction another attacking exit before the deadline, Ramazani remains the name that appears most likely.
The Belgian has been outside Farke’s plans for much of the summer and has not featured as Leeds have started the campaign strongly.
There is also the possibility of interest from clubs looking for an attacking addition before the window closes.
For Joseph, however, the situation is less straightforward.
His age, previous performances and potential mean Leeds would presumably want the right conditions before allowing him to leave, particularly after the serious injury he suffered last season.
The club also have to consider what is best for his development and recovery rather than simply clearing another name from the wage bill.
And Farke’s decisions so far have certainly given him plenty of justification.
Two wins over Forest in the space of three days have provided Leeds with the perfect competitive start, while the new additions have already shown signs of making a difference.
The next few weeks will determine whether more players leave Elland Road, but Joseph’s situation could ultimately be one that remains unresolved until January.
For now, Leeds appear to have far bigger priorities — and with the transfer deadline approaching, the 49ers will be hoping to finish their summer business on another high.
Nafisa
