Managing Leeds United - New forward signs, Wilfried Gnonto transfer decision and contract talks

Leeds United are just outside the Championship’s automatic promotion places after the third international break of the season.

Daniel Farke's side find themselves in third position, having collected 29 points from 15 matches. They trail both second-placed Sheffield United and leaders Sunderland by two points. The Blades reclaimed second spot after beating Sheffield Wednesday in a dull Steel City derby at Bramall Lane a week ago.

With two thirds of the campaign still to play, expect there to be plenty of twists and turns in the promotion race. Only eight points separate the top eight teams.

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With the January transfer window fast approaching, LeedsLive has taken the reins and looked at how United should approach a critical period in their promotion push:

New forward arrives

It is well-documented the Whites wanted to bring in a natural No 10 in the summer window to replace Georginio Rutter. They had a big-money offer turned down for Sheffield United star Gustavo Hamer. Roland Sallai, Emi Buendia, James McAtee and Fabio Carvalho were among other targets United explored.

"It's never easy when you perhaps don't have this traditional number 10," admitted Farke after the closure of the summer window. "But yeah, we decided as a club to go this way. If you don't have it, then you need to work with other tools. That's what we're trying to do.

"Yeah, of course, in the ideal dream world, we would have had also this player right now available, but if we don't have them, then it's not about complaining. It's more like 'okay, come on, then we work with what we've got'. And I'm excited to work with this exciting young group."

Brenden Aaronson and Joel Piroe are currently the options Farke has at his disposal in the advanced attacking role. Farke regards USA international Aaronson as a specialist No 10. Aaronson has, in the main, done well there, with Piroe thriving as a No 9.

Yet it would be a major surprise if United do not look to increase their attacking firepower in the New Year to ease the creative burden on players such as Wilfried Gnonto, Aaronson and Largie Ramazani. Some more pace and unpredictability in the final third would not go amiss.

But there is also a strong argument that the Whites could do with signing another striker to help push them over the line. Joseph has struggled for goals and Bamford has barely played. Should United be looking to bring in an additional centre-forward to keep Piroe on his toes?

Best players stay put

There is bound to be interest in some of the Whites' top players. Gnonto was strongly linked with Everton and European clubs in the summer window. Illan Meslier also has his admirers on the continent.

You've then got Pascal Struijk. His outstanding performances at the back are unlikely to have gone unnoticed. Struijk and Joe Rodon have gone from strength to strength as a centre-back pairing as the weeks have gone on. Neither of them would look out of place in the Premier League.

United have got lots of assets who are bound to attract interest from elsewhere. But it is imperative Farke keeps the squad intact after an enormous turnover in the playing squad in the wake of their play-off heartache. It should be about incomings rather than outgoings in the January sales.

Contract decisions

As things stand, barring undisclosed extension triggers, Junior Firpo and Sam Byram's United contracts will expire next June. If the defensive duo enter the final six months of their contracts on January 1, Firpo and Byram will be free to sign pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs.

Given the Whites forked out in the region of £10m and £15m to buy Firpo from Barcelona, losing him for nothing would be a financial blow. Firpo's attacking output has been a big factor behind United's consistent results this calendar year.

Firpo and Bryam are two of the older heads in the dressing room. Their experience and leadership qualities will be vital if they are to achieve promotion. But it remains to be seen if Firpo and Byram will be part of the club's long term future.