Only three points separate first and fourth in the Championship after the 26 matches. But Leeds United head into the second half of the season knowing a return to the Premier League is in their hands.

Daniel Farke's troops sit top of the pile after racking up a whopping 53 points. After today's FA Cup third round tie with Harrogate Town, the Whites resume their promotion push at home to Sheffield Wednesday a week on Sunday. Expect there to be plenty of twists and turns in the race to go up over the coming months.

There are areas of United squad that could do with reinforcements in the January transfer window. Some additional cover at centre-back and in the No 10 position would definitely not go amiss.

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But Farke expects a quiet window, admitting it will be difficult to improve his squad in the mid-season market. “Competition and options are always good for a manager but too many options and the group being too big can divide the whole group," said the United chief. "Too many players around who are not needed is not good for the spirit of the group.

"One of the secrets why we are the team who has won more points in the festive period, we’ve found solutions, in my experience is also the spirit within the group, the togetherness and unity, is more important than the quality when it comes to the crunch time. To overdo things makes no sense."

Boffins at OLBG have simulated United's transfer window in Football Manager 2024. The simulation has predicted there could be four new recruits and two departures before the market closes on February 3.

Incomings

Miguel Almirion from Newcastle - £10m

Kristian Thorstvedt from Sassuolo - £4.2m

Nicolas Fernandez Mercau from Elche - £3.8m

Khayon Edwards from Arsenal - £750k

Outgoings

Daniel James to Wolves £21 million

Kris Moore to Crewe - loan