Daniel Farke has told Leeds United supporters he will “stay awake” for opportunities in the January transfer market and some fans will no doubt be waiting up until the late hours on deadline day to see whether the club makes any last minute signings.

Leeds have less than two weeks to make transfer acquisitions before the window shuts until the summer. By then United will either be a Premier League club or be part of the Championship roster for yet another year.

Some supporters fear that not bolstering certain areas of the squad could come back to bite Leeds but Farke says he is more bothered about team spirit and unity in the hunt for promotion. After all, it has taken them to the top of the Championship. Looking back to matchday 27 of the league standings last season, Farke may feel justified in adopting his transfer stance. At that point, United were down in fourth but had just beaten Cardiff City 3-0 in Wales on January 13, 2024.

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Patrick Bamford, Daniel James and Georginio Rutter all got on the scoresheet that day as Crysencio Summerville missed a second-half spot kick. Three of those four find themselves in different circumstances 12 months on.

Rutter has just celebrated scoring in a 3-1 Brighton & Hove Albion win against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Summerville is under his second manager at West Ham United and Bamford is currently out injured having failed to start a league game or score a goal for Leeds this season.

James is still working the flank for Farke and is now in a squad which can use evidence to show its growth over the past year. At this stage last campaign, United had accumulated 51 points from 27 matches. This time around, they have four more points and are top of the table. Interestingly, all those in the top three above Leeds at this point back in 2024 all achieved promotion to the Premier League. A good omen, perhaps.

Farke is aware of the momentum he has built, with his side on the cusp of going 10 Championship matches unbeaten. “We have a perfect unity and this is why we are the team that has won more points, we don't want to risk that spirit in the group,” he said regarding transfer arrivals earlier this month.

“That spirit is more important in the crunch time and as things stand we are the best team in the league at the top. If there is a new injury we will change our plans, but at the moment we expect a quiet January.”

Fans will rightly be aware that this theory could crumble should United go on a poor run of results at the wrong time, and that is what is fuelling the calls for Farke to recruit. But, for now, the manager's transfer hesitancy can be justified.