49ers Enterprises – CaughtOffside

Transfer window issue resolved as Leeds reach agreement

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 17:22:38 +0000

Business for Leeds United was incredibly brisk this summer – because it had to be.

If the all whites wanted to hit the ground running then it was imperative that everyone knew the score, and they were across any potential deals right up until the last moment.

Suffice to say that Daniel Farke’s first couple of months in the job were something of a whirlwind, but it has settled down to the extent that his team are now very much a team in his own image.

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Swift, attacking football that’s easy on the eye is a hallmark of his side, and he’ll surely be delighted at the news that the status quo will remain the same for at least the next two transfer windows.

That’s because, according to The Athletic (subscription required), the mastermind behind the last window, Nick Hammond, is being kept on until at least the end of next summer.

If Leeds can position themselves well enough in the second half of the season as they push towards automatic promotion, Hammond is believed to have the expertise to buy well for what would then be a new Premier League season.

That’s as vital as keeping the likes of Farke for ‘front of house’ and is likely to see a benefit for the club again in January.

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Leeds turn down multiple offers for midfielder

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 20:01:56 +0000

The strength of Leeds United as a club at present can perhaps be seen by the news that they turned down multiple bids for one of their midfielders this past summer.

Considering how many players they let go as well as how many were kept and brought in, that speaks volumes for the regard in which they hold the player concerned.

Daniel Farke knows exactly what it takes to get a team up from the Championship to the Premier League and surely would have done his homework on the squad prior to taking over and in the first few weeks he had in the job.

He likely will have identified the various skill sets, and which players he could rely on to get them into a position whereby they would peak at just the right time.

What’s odd then, is that he hasn’t given Lewis Bate a chance so far in 2023/24.

The 21-year-old is apparently “desperate” to play for the club according to Football League World sources, however, Farke has shown no interest to this point.

It does beg the question why the club turned down so many offers for him in the summer window (h/t Football League World), if they didn’t intend to use him.

Clearly, not playing doesn’t do anyone any favours, and the sooner the situation is resolved, the better for all concerned.

That may come as early as January as Leeds could use the window to loan him out for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign.

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Class defender hints he could play for Leeds if they get promoted

Jason Pettigrove — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 12:53:32 +0000

It’s been fascinating watching Leeds United this season, and the Elland Road faithful can’t have failed to have been impressed.

Daniel Farke has put the emphasis on playing entertaining, attacking football, but with a seriously hard work ethic at the centre of it all.

The German’s experience of guiding teams up into the Premier League will really come into its own in the second half of the season, and if the all whites can continue in the same way as they have since Farke took over, there’s a very good chance indeed that Leeds will find themselves as one of the two teams automatically going up.

When you consider just what the first-team management and squad have had to deal with in the initial stages of the 2023/24 campaign and yet still find themselves in third position in the Championship, it does make you speculate on just where their ceiling could be in the current campaign.

One of their on loan defenders has even hinted that he may play for the club again should they get promoted.

“Leeds are playing very well,” Max Wober said to Austrian outlet Laola1.

“They play really cool football, it’s fun to watch. If they continue like this, everything looks like they are going up. Then the whole thing is not really in my hands.”

Should Leeds reach the promised land at the first time of asking, and Farke prove beyond doubt that he’s the man for the job, there’s every reason to believe that Elland Road will once again become a destination where players want to be.

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Lack of concentration saw Farke demand more from £50k-a-week Leeds player

Jason Pettigrove — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 08:04:28 +0000

Daniel Farke has quickly proved himself to be the right man for the Leeds United manager’s job, and now the German is demanding that certain players prove themselves capable of wearing the shirt.

Despite a topsy turvy start to their 2023/24 Championship season, no doubt due to the upheaval across the summer, Farke hasn’t taken long to steady the ship and the all whites are now in an enviable position tucked right in behind the top two.

A ‘best of the rest’ position will arguably suit Leeds at the moment as the motivation to reel in the top two will surely be there.

Their comeback win at Farke’s former club, Norwich City, only enhanced his and the club’s promotion credentials, and as long as the squad show consistency throughout the campaign, there’s no reason why the manager can’t hit the jackpot again.

One player has already been spoken to about his own consistency and lack of concentration by his hard task master of a manager.

“When I followed his (Pascal Struijk’s) recent season he was always there,” Farke was quoted as saying by Leeds Live.

“There have been some minor moments when he was not switched on. You cannot afford not to be switched on. I spoke to him about consistency and 90 plus minutes [being] switched on, he was annoyed with himself.

“As a centre-back you do not gamble, he’s adapted quite well to my demands. We were there with clean sheets. Skills with the ball, his passing, threat on set-pieces. Very pleased with him.

“The armband helps to give him responsibility for the whole group.”

Evidently, Farke will be Struijk’s biggest supporter if the £50k per week (Capology) ace follows the blueprint that the manager has laid out for success this season.

Judging by performance levels over the last few games that isn’t looking likely to be a problem and it surely bodes well for all concerned.

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“We need goals, we need assists” – Farke not yet satisfied with Leeds player

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 09:34:35 +0000

An epic 3-2 comeback win for Daniel Farke’s Leeds United at his former club, Norwich City, this past weekend owed much to the bravery of some of his players as they went for an all-out attack after going 2-0 down, however, the manager still wants more out of one particular star.

Farke knows exactly what it takes to get a team promoted from the Championship to the Premier League having done so with the Canaries, and he deserves all of the plaudits for taking a gamble in a game which was looking likely to end in defeat.

The three points earned took Leeds up into third position in the English second-tier, and now the Yorkshire-based outfit will look to reel in Ipswich Town and Leicester City who are six and 11 points ahead of them respectively.

Match winner against Norwich was Crysencio Summerville, scoring two goals of the highest quality.

The rapid attacker is really coming into his own this season, though Farke wants more from him.

“Crysencio is a baller, it’s more like it’s a joy to watch him. This is why we all come into the stadium because when you see a guy touching the ball like he does, it’s heart-warming,” he was quoted as saying by Leeds Live.

“But the one thing we always speak about with him about and talk with him about, we want him to improve his effectiveness and we need goals, we need assists, we need end products. This is also the final step in order to find also his next step in his career, end product.”

It’s that kind of attention to detail and consistent pressure on his players to keep them on their toes that gives Farke the edge as a manager and coach.

Rather than resting on their laurels, the German is forever demanding more and, at this stage, his players are responding.

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26-year-old set to return to Leeds if they get promoted

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:12:58 +0000

There’s a long, long way to go yet in the Championship season, but if Leeds United are to ultimately get promoted back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, one 26-year-old ace is likely to return to the club.

Daniel Farke is already masterminding an assault on the English second-tier’s top three, with the all whites sat just outside that at the moment.

If the majority of his players are able to stay free of injury for the most part of the season and Leeds can continue building up a head of steam, Farke has the nous and knowledge to be able to navigate the business end of the season with ease.

Indeed, the German’s experience at the sharp end of Championship football is likely to hold his team in very good stead as picking up points becomes more and more important towards the end of the season.

Assuming that he’s able to take the all whites back to the promised land, it appears that Max Wober, currently on loan at Bundesliga outfit, Borussia Monchengladbach, will be required to report back to the club.

According to Rheinische Post (h/t Sky Sports Germany), Wober will only be able to stay with Monchengladbach permanently if Leeds are still in the Championship in 2024/25.

In that eventuality, they will need funds in and so would, reluctantly, cash in on Wober’s services.

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Journalist claims Leeds forward must never start games for Daniel Farke

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 11:07:58 +0000

Saturday afternoon sees a potential epic Championship encounter ahead, as Daniel Farke’s Leeds United side visit his old stamping ground of Carrow Road and a match against his former club, Norwich City.

The Canaries will know exactly what to expect from the all whites, given that the German got them promoted to the Premier League on two previous occasions.

Leeds are building up a head of steam now and currently find themselves two points ahead of Norwich, and just one behind third-placed Preston.

Though both Leicester City and Ipswich Town seem to be streaking away in the automatic promotion positions at present, it’s far, far too early to expect them to sustain a challenge right until the end of the current campaign.

The pair are there to be shot at and all of the other Championship teams will delight in bringing them down a peg or two.

To that end, Leeds are perfectly placed at the moment to take advantage of any potential slip ups.

They need their best XI playing at all times, injuries permitting, and one player that Leeds Live journalist, Beren Cross, believes shouldn’t start games for the all whites is Dan James.

“For all of Daniel James’s assists with club and country, Anthony still does more for me, especially in first halves. The Wales international has been at his best as an impact substitute and can frustrate when he starts against fresh legs,” he said.

“There is not much in it, but the Bournemouth loanee did catch the eye when he started against Queens Park Rangers before rolling his ankle.”

From Farke’s point of view, to have two players vying for the same spot and in good form is manna from heaven.

The motivation to be handed a starting spot each week is bound to elevate performance levels and that can only be a good thing for the club.

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Leeds ace could sign permanently in January: Farke open to doing the deal

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:26:36 +0000

Leeds United manager, Daniel Farke, looks like he will have a number of decisions to make in the lead up to, and during, the January transfer window.

Much will depend on how well placed the all whites are at the beginning of the new year, as to whether the German decides to shuffle his pack or keep the status quo much as it is at the moment.

That would include keeping Robin Kock at Eintracht Frankfurt, a situation that appears to be on the verge of being turned from a loan arrangement into a permanent one.

According to Sport 1, the Bundesliga side have no intention of allowing Koch’s transfer to be short-term.

The outlet also go on to say how both player and club believe the move has been perfect for all concerned and that there appears to be a clear plan to undertake negotiations once the January transfer window opens for business.

Farke would, apparently, be open to doing a permanent deal, and there’s bound to be an expectation from the manager that any fee could be re-invested in his squad for the second half of the Championship campaign, particularly if Leeds are still in the running for promotion.

It would seem that all that remains to ensure the deal is done is that a fee is agreed.

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Leeds to get colossal eight figure windfall ahead of January transfer window

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 14:47:01 +0000

The January transfer window could come at precisely the right time for Leeds United after it was revealed that the club are set to receive a huge £21m windfall.

It isn’t clear at this stage if all of the money that will land in club coffers will be handed to manager, Daniel Farke, to make a splurge early in the new year, though it’s a safe enough bet that he’d be able to buy some top class talent for the second half of the season with that kind of spending power.

The payout will arrive courtesy of FC Barcelona and one of their staged payments for former Leeds ace, Raphinha.

As Football Insider note, the deal was completed 15 months ago but the Catalan outfit, then still in dire financial straits, managed to negotiate a payment plan for the Brazilian star.

It isn’t a final payment for the player either, with more to come in future.

The Elland Road outfit have certainly missed the winger’s dynamism, skill and goals, though it’s doubtful even he could’ve saved his old club last season had he not made the transfer to the Spanish top-flight giants.

New Leeds owners, 49ers Enterprises, will undoubtedly have something to say about where the money finally ends up, and Farke should be keeping his fingers crossed for a mid-season bonus.

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27-year-old says playing for Leeds United involves ‘extreme risk’

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 11:26:38 +0000

With 17 goals scored and 11 conceded in the Championship so far this season, Leeds United are clearly one of the more entertaining teams to watch in 2023/24.

Daniel Farke will undoubtedly hope that things settle down further as the season progresses whilst still providing entertainment for the club’s supporters.

The age old saying of something being ‘a marathon not a sprint’ perfectly encapsulates the long, hard Championship season and so there’s every chance that teams that might be struggling in mid-table at present could reel in those at the top by the end of the campaign.

Leeds are sat in fourth position, tucked in nicely behind the top three and ready to push on at any point.

Defensively they need to tighten up a little and if they can achieve that, Farke has the nous and knowledge of how to negotiate the latter stages of the season.

One player that won’t be part of any successes or failures at the club in 23/24 is Robin Koch, after the 27-year-old moved on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt.

His recent comments about his parent club, detailed by SGE4Ever, could mean that he doesn’t even pull on the white shirt again too.

“In Leeds there was a lot of pressing and therefore extreme risk at the back,” he was quoted as saying.

“Of course, it’s more pleasant for a defender to keep a clean sheet or generally concede few goals.”

It sounds as if he’s already made up his mind as to where he would rather not be next season, but as Leeds are doing just fine without him, perhaps it won’t be too much of a loss for them to have to cope with.

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