Daniel Farke delivered a teasing line when asked about Leeds United’s transfer activity in the final days of the window on Monday.

"I have not checked my phone for the last six hours. I will check it after this press conference, perhaps I can tell you more in the next press conference."

The United boss had just watched his side play out a goalless draw with promotion rivals Burnley in a game that saw just one shot fired on target between both teams. Though United are top of the table, there are question marks hanging over the form of several attacking players.

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Brenden Aaronson has not scored or assisted in five matches while Joel Piroe has scored just once in six outings. His back-up, Mateo Joseph, has not netted since mid-October.

While the club’s wingers have been on song over the past few games, central options are lacking in end product. So, with less than a week to go until deadline day, this is what United’s dream end to the window looks like.

A new No.10

Aaronson has started each of the last 27 Championship matches and it is showing. The American’s high-pressing game often peters out towards the end of a match, with less energy to find that cutting pass or clever strike.

He desperately needs a back-up or, even better, competition. With Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen seemingly calling for Emiliano Buendia, Leeds can barely compete, despite the obvious links with Farke.

But with the Championship hardly ever on a top-flight attacker’s radar in January, United may need to think more laterally and look across the division. A Scott Twine of Bristol City, a Jack Rudoni of Coventry City, a Finn Azaz of Middlesbrough.

United would be hard to turn down for all three, albeit their clubs might have something to say first as is the tough nature of the January market.

Striker competition

Piroe is United’s top scorer with 10 goals this season yet there hangs a lot of frustration over his output. The striker may point to a lack of direct service but when he has been on the ball, the attacker has not been overly productive in recent weeks.

Joseph has potential but is not providing the competition Piroe needs right now while Patrick Bamford is even lower in the pecking order, having not started a Championship game all season. And with Joe Gelhardt, loaned to Hull City this month, not favoured by Farke, United have little else to turn to.

Like Aaronson, competition might push Piroe on to play his best football. Getting in a striker who is looking to prove himself after a stagnant time elsewhere would be the ideal scenario, with his hunger hopefully spreading to teammates.

Centre-back addition

The hope is that Pascal Struijk will be back in team training this week and is nearing a return from his hamstring injury. However, despite his imminent return, Farke said last week that he is still open to acquiring a new central defender.

He pointed to Struijk’s injury situation last season, where he was given a good outlook for his groin injury in December 2023 before he was sidelined for the rest of the campaign. In a dream scenario, bringing in reinforcement would be ideal.

Ethan Ampadu has done well beside Joe Rodon to create the ‘Welsh wall’ in Struijk’s absence but Farke decided to field Ilia Gruev against Burnley to help add protection to the defence. There is an argument to say he might not have done this if Struijk was fully fit.

So if there is an opportunity to act, Farke has said he will. But with four straight clean sheets and 17 clean sheets in the Championship, this is perhaps the least concerning area of the three.