Sources: Daniel Farke 'fears for Leeds' after two late signings he craved collapsed at 11th hour
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(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media/Imago)
Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent
Fri 5 September 2025 10:31, UK
Leeds United’s failure to make any attacking signings on deadline day has left Daniel Farke concerned for the season ahead, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what his sources have said about the frustrating end to the transfer window at Leeds.
Football Insider revealed with eight days remaining in the window that Farke still wanted to make four new signings at Elland Road, with full-back cover on both sides as well as a winger and a number 10.
James Justin arrived in an £8million deal on 25 August, but Leeds failed to add any other new faces to Farke’s squad and saw moves for Harry Wilson and Manor Solomon both fall through on deadline day.
Leeds had scheduled a flight to bring Wilson to Thorp Arch, but the Wales winger never got on the plane and Football Insider sources have said that these setbacks have left Farke and Leeds fans frustrated.
Sources have told Football Insider that after scoring just once from the penalty spot in their first three Premier League matches, Leeds’ failure to add another forward or attacking midfielder leaves Farke with ground to make up.
Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media
Football Insider revealed on Friday that another Leeds target has opted to head elsewhere with Josh Brownhill set to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab, as the Whites turn to the free agents’ market.
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Speaking on the new Inside Track podcast, O’Rourke stated that after missing out on both Solomon and Wilson in two late blows, it remains to be seen if Leeds have the creativity needed to stay up this season.
“There will be a hint of frustration for Daniel Farke – they missed out on some targets”, he told Football Insider.
“They are still lacking a bit up front, Leeds and he fears for them on that front – not getting the deal done for Manor Solomon will be a blow to Farke and the Leeds fans, because he had such a great impact there on loan last season.
“They tried to sign Harry Wilson on deadline day from Fulham and weren’t able to get that deal over the line as well, so they were looking to add some creativity in the final third.
“That’s been illustrated in their opening few games in the Premier League – just one goal from the first three, and that was a penalty as well.
“You can tell that Leeds would ideally have liked to add another forward and an attacking midfielder, they tried until the last minute on deadline day, just to bolster their goalscoring options in that area.”
Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media
Leeds have still added to their frontline this summer with the acquisitions of Noah Okafor, Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but all three are injury prone and the latter duo both arrived on free transfers.
Blame for the failure to add to these attacking options with Wilson, Solomon or other targets like Bilal El Khannouss can’t be laid at Farke’s feet, but it is he who will face the axe if Leeds’ attack fails to fire.
Largie Ramazani and Patrick Bamford‘s respective exits could have been handled far better by Farke, but 49ers Enterprises can’t argue that the German didn’t identify perceived upgrades in the transfer market.