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The Marching On Newsletter 🟡 What to expect from Leeds United in final weeks of transfer window PLUS - a big thank you, to you. Edition #44 Welcome to The Marching On Newsletter, a free weekly newsletter from me, Isaac Johnson, which unpacks all things Leeds United. If you enjoy this edition but have not yet signed up, consider subscribing to get each newsletter sent directly to your inbox each Friday morning! Or forward it to a friend who may also enjoy it. Cheers! 🗞 Guys - thank you so much. This week, we passed 1,000 subscribers and I’m so chuffed. The support for this newsletter has been terrific and I am delighted that so many of you get so much out of this weekly column. To have reached this milestone with not quite a year gone is simply fantastic. To those who have been here all the way; thank you. To those who have joined at a later date; again, thank you. We’ve had all sorts of Leeds United figures speak on TMON including current players (such as Gabriel Gudmundsson and Joe Rodon), stars of yesteryear (such as Luciano Becchio and Gary McAllister) and some of you, my subscribers. We’ve had trips to Dublin and Wembley, jokes with Daniel Farke and me almost ending up in the Leeds dressing room after THAT win at Old Trafford. Here’s to many more memories. My aim is for the newsletter to ramp up from next week onwards - when us reporters are finally back at games again. More interviews, inside details, sights and sounds not seen by fans. Transfer news, of course. On that subject, let’s take a look at what to expect in the final month of the transfer window. Hopefully yesterday’s news about James Trafford has calmed the transfer angst. I would expect Lucas Perri to move to Torino fairly quickly now. To let you in on the situation in Italy, Torino have been a bit twitchy about the waiting. They need a goalkeeper in before long with their first choice currently out for several months after shoulder surgery. Their season begins a week tomorrow, albeit it is a cup game. Perri’s absence from the last two friendlies of the US tour has been seen by some Leeds supporters as conspicuous. The club have relayed that he has a knock - not exactly great news for Torino. But I’d still expect him to leave pretty promptly now the paperwork for Trafford has been filed, and then Leeds will look for a new number two. By the way, here is my take of the Trafford deal (click to view): Leeds had already moved onto other targets by the time Julian Brandt was unveiled at Ajax. Talks had been held but there had been a long silence that seemed ominous. I would still back Leeds to land a number 10. Harry Wilson can play in the role and has done in pre-season but he isn’t really a true natural 10. Daniel Farke has long wanted a playmaker who can also play on the wing - Wilson is vice versa. Fans have got excited by the possibility of Marseille attacker Igor Paixao, the left winger who was targeted last year. I understand a move for him is unlikely as things stand, though Leeds do admire him and never say never. But I think if Leeds do get that number 10 who can play on the flank then that shuts down any possibility. What is sure, though, is Leeds’ need for a back-up left-back and striker. Both were highlighted during the tour of the US; by the lack of central-forward output when Dominic Calvert-Lewin was off the field, and Gabriel Gudmundsson’s injury, respectively. Gudmundsson’s suspected hamstring issue is not the one he injured back in April, for what it’s worth. He’s undergoing testing but it doesn’t seem anything overly serious. Leeds need to mind defensive numbers. It looks as though Farke is going to go into next season sticking with the back-three formation - they still only have four natural centre-back options. Hamburg are interested in Sebastiaan Bornauw and it is not impossible that he leaves given his lack of game time; just five Premier League starts since joining last year and many of those were amid injuries to colleagues. If he does go, then Leeds would need to find a new centre-back, despite James Justin’s ability to fill in. Indeed, should he need to cover for either Gudmundsson or Jayden Bogle, United would be stretched. In terms of other outgoings, Joel Piroe will surely have interest. He started just two Premier League games last season and is a prime candidate to be let go; but his preference is to stay. Wilfried Gnonto’s game time chances have got slimmer amid the arrival of Wilson, but I would be less shocked if he did stay. The intimations from the Leeds camp is that the manager will be flexible in his formation in-game, like he was last year. Gnonto made real impacts when he came off the bench. It just depends if the player himself would be satisfied with that. He was left disappointed by his lack of game time last year - with just four Premier League starts - but didn’t want to kick up a fuss. It is worth noting that while £70m-plus has now been spent, Leeds have drummed up £20m in sales. The inevitable exits of Joe Gelhardt and Largie Ramazani will likely push this above £30m. This is much better than last year’s return, with the squad now being more refined and open for new arrivals. Meanwhile, the reality is that by full-time vs RB Leipzig on Saturday, there are just two weeks until the season begins and three until deadline day. Farke did state that he expected business to be pushed towards the back end of the window due to the World Cup. Well, we’re here now. So far, so very good. But this is far from the final picture. By the time I land back from Dublin next week, there could be more movement in the offing.