The Whites have made a concerted effort to steer clear of any notable deals this month, and after Marcelo Bielsa confirmed earlier in the week that his team hadn’t even “contemplated” making any signings, it would be a surprise at this stage if there were any new additions to the squad at Elland Road before the deadline passes.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be outgoings, however, and two of Leeds’ young striking talents have been at the centre of exit speculation.
Rafa Mujica has endured a miserable loan spell at Real Oviedo during the first half of the season, and looks destined to return to boyhood club Las Palmas on another temporary deal instead.
According to Spanish outlet Cope, an agreement has been reached that would see the 22-year-old link up with the Gran Canarian outfit, and now it’s just a case of waiting for the relevant authorities to green light it.
Mujica has been limited to just five appearances at Oviedo, four of which have come from the bench.
One his one and only start he bagged a brace though, and his average of one goal every 66 minutes is considerably better that of Las Palmas’ current top scorer Jonathan Calleri, who has one every 346 minutes.
Elsewhere, Leeds have received widespread interest in taking teenage striker Joe Gelhardt on loan this month, as per Football Insider.
The youngster has impressed immensely in the youth setup at Thorp Arch since he signed for the Whites from Wigan Athletic over the summer, and has already hit five goals in nine outings for the U23s.
His rate of one strike every 137 minutes is mightily impressive, and hints at a prospering talent who could have a big future ahead of him – especially considering the fact that he’s only 18.
That record hasn’t gone unnoticed by a number of clubs either, with Football Insider suggesting that Leeds have knocked back several loan offers.
Evidently, Bielsa believes that the best place for him to continue his development is at Elland Road…
We’ve gathered the rest of this afternoon's speculation from around the Premier League below:
5. Lazaar set for nervy wait
Achraf Lazaar is waiting to see if Newcastle United will terminate his contract this month. AC Milan are keen on signing the player if he becomes a free agent. (Milan News 24) (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images) Photo: Charlotte Tattersall
6. Alli deal could go down to wire
Any deal taking Dele Alli from Tottenham to PSG could end up going right down to the final hours of the transfer window. No agreement has been reached yet. (L'Equipe) (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Photo: Clive Brunskill
7. Danny Rose
Tottenham defender Danny Rose is waiting for Trabzonspor manager Abdullah Avci to agree to his transfer before joining the Turkish club. The full-back has provisionally agreed a three-and-a-half year deal. (Cumhuriyet) (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images) Photo: Alex Morton
8. Dzeko not keen on West Ham
West Ham are in the market for a new striker, and have identified Edin Dzeko has a potential target. Unfortunately for them, the veteran Roma man does not reciprocate their interest. (La Repubblica) (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) Photo: Paolo Bruno