Daniel Farke will have the last say over Leeds United’s decision to sign Cheikhou Kouyate on a short-term contract in the next 24 to 48 hours. The Whites have also been linked to a move for a Cameroon international defender.

The Whites are now in fifth place in the Championship standings after only losing one of their first nine games. However, their hopes of promotion will be tested on Friday night when they play Sheffield United, who have not lost, in a highly anticipated derby at Elland Road.However, Leeds enters the match dealing with a number of injury concerns, having recently lost both Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu, their first-choice central midfielders, to knee problems.

Additionally, the Whites have turned to the signing of free-agent midfielder Kouyate as a temporary stopgap, as Farke only has Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell as senior options in the engine room.

Since leaving Nottingham Forest at the end of the previous season, the 34-year-old defensive midfielder has been without a team. In recent days, he has been strongly connected to a move to Leeds, according to reports that he had a physical at their Thorp Arch training center on Friday.

Although Leeds has not yet made a decision regarding Kouyate’s terms, a final decision regarding the signing of the former West Ham and Crystal Palace player, who has 291 Premier League appearances under his belt, is anticipated within the next 48 hours.

Prior to the January transfer window, the Whites are also being linked to a deal for defender Joyskim Dawa of Steaua Bucharest. This season, the nine-time Cameroon international has shown promise in the Europa League, but if a bidder fulfills the 28-year-old’s £4 million exit clause, he may depart.

Leeds is reportedly thinking about making an approach for a player, according to the Daily Mirror. However, they will have to compete with Fulham and Everton for his services, as the Cottagers have already reportedly gotten in touch with his agency.

Farke will have the last word on the Leeds deal over the Kouyate transfer.

However, there is a choice for later. As the team gets ready for Friday’s match against the Blades, Farke will be crossing his fingers that Tanaka and the other ten Leeds players, who are all on international duty this week, return to Thorp Arch without any serious problems.

The good news for Leeds is that both Manor Solomon and Dan James have improved during the international break. Later this week, when he addresses the media, the Leeds boss is anticipated to give an update on their fitness.

However, Farke is likely to press the button on a deal for Kouyate if Tanaka experiences even a little setback. The Japan star won’t play until Tuesday when his nation plays Australia in a World Cup qualifying match.

Despite initially expressing a desire to sign Kouyate, Leeds has delayed making a decision until this week because Farke does not want to jump into anything too soon. Kouyate did undergo a physical on Friday.

Leeds has a very hectic schedule of games to manage between now and the January window, which doesn’t open for another 11 weeks, and they only have two senior midfield alternatives to choose from.

Therefore, even as a temporary solution, a potential deal for Kouyate makes a lot of sense.

Although Farke has not officially addressed the rumors, he has stated that he is cautious about bringing in free agents at this point in the season.

After hearing the terrible news about Ilia Gruev, he stated, “I really don’t like October signings of free agents on the midfielder position.” “I don’t believe in it, but you have to consider it when things are weird.