da dobrowin： Plenty of statistics at the mid-way point of the Premier League season indicate that Leeds United should secure survival when the 38-game whirlwind is over.

da realbet： After only nine games played and 11 points in hand, Daniel Farke’s men were already in a great position, with Manchester City back in the 2000-01 season, the last team to be relegated with that points tally, at the nine-game stage of the campaign.

Moreover, no top-flight side has succumbed to the drop when they have been eight points clear of the dreaded bottom three after 20 outings. Basically, all the positive signs are there to point in the direction of the West Yorkshire giants being safe.

Of course, it’s not that straightforward, with Leeds well-known to love a late-season wobble to stress the Elland Road masses out, as Farke eyes up January as the perfect time to reinforce and strengthen, ahead of the rest of the challenging season to come.

Leeds place Premier League winger on shortlist

While it had been a quiet start to the January window for Farke’s men, Leeds have now exploded into life.

Indeed, shock news emerged on that Brighton and Hove Albion playmaker Facundo Buonanotte will leave his current loan stint with Chelsea to relocate to West Yorkshire for the rest of the season. A deal moved so fast that the Argentine was officially confirmed as a Leeds player on Thursday. The club announced he’d signed on loan.

They aren’t done there, however, with Chelsea reserve attacker Tyrique George also being placed on Leeds’ shortlist, as per a report from TEAMtalk.

The publication states that George has been discussed behind the scenes at Elland Road, with the forward noted as being ready to leave Stamford Bridge this month in the pursuit of more first-team opportunities elsewhere.

How George could be a better signing than Buonanotte

With Jack Harrison set to leave for Fiorentina, it does make sense that Leeds would be prioritising some new bodies down the flanks. As a result, this move could well be a smarter one than Buonanotte.

While the South American midfielder does boast more Premier League experience, with 72 appearances next to his name in the English top-flight, he has struggled to impress at Chelsea this season from limited chances. Whereas the Camden-born attacker has previously shone as a bit-part player in West London, as seen in him hammering home a wonderful effort last season against Fulham.

With an assist also coming his way from just one meagre start in league action last campaign, Farke would surely love to call upon George as an impact presence, particularly when teams are tiring and look lethargic.

George’s senior numbers for Chelsea

Stat

George

Games played

37

Minutes played

1646 mins

Goals scored

6

Assists

6

Sourced by Transfermarkt

After all, George has been noted to be an “explosive” presence by Como scout Ben Mattinson, putting away a further five goals for his boyhood club, while Buonanotte will likely remain on just the one forgettable goal for the Blues, before retreating to Leeds.

Moreover, it could be argued that Leeds are already well-stocked in the number ten department, which is where Buonanotte likes to slot in, with Brenden Aaronson shining in this role away at Newcastle United recently, scoring and assisting.

The vibrant American is, actually, experiencing somewhat of a renaissance at the moment at Elland Road, with his tally of four goals and three assists in the Premier League making him a hard figure to shake from Farke’s starting XI, as he perfectly embodies the energetic approach the German wants from his group, while also having that end product to match.

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This could make Buonanotte’s task to come immediately into Farke’s first team plans extremely tricky, with this not being an ideal next step for the 21-year-old, having been largely frozen out of the senior picture already back in West London.

Whereas, for George, he could come in and instantly make an impact as a lively, gung-ho presence down the wing, having also stood out as a front-foot option for the England U21s recently. Leeds potentially losing Harrison leaves both Wilfried Gnonto and Noah Okafor as the ex-Norwich City manager’s only personnel capable of darting down the channels.

There will be a slight worry that Buonanotte could fall victim to another uninspired loan stint, whereas, with George, Leeds could win a blistering attacker ready to firmly prove a point in a position where Leeds are not blessed with the best options.

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