As Leeds United gear up for their Premier League opener against Everton, manager Daniel Farke faces a critical two-week window to bolster his squad for the challenges of top-flight football. Fresh off a triumphant Championship campaign, where the Whites secured promotion with a historic 100-point haul, Farke is acutely aware of the need to strengthen key areas to ensure survival in the Premier League. According to Leeds Live, the club’s top transfer priorities are a new left winger and a striker, with the addition of a number 10 to challenge Brenden Aaronson also under consideration.
Replacing Manor Solomon’s Spark
The departure of loanee Manor Solomon, who returned to Tottenham after a standout season in the Championship, has left a significant void in Leeds’ attacking unit. Solomon’s flair and creativity on the left flank were pivotal in the second half of the 2024/25 season, and Farke has openly acknowledged the need for a replacement. “If you compare our offence now to the Championship offence last season, then we have lost our standout player in the second half of the season in Manor Solomon,” Farke said after a 1-1 pre-season draw with Villarreal. “We know we need additions in this position.”
Leeds have been linked with several wingers to fill this gap, with Feyenoord’s Igor Paixão a prominent target. The Brazilian, who scored 16 goals and provided 14 assists in 34 Eredivisie matches last season, was the subject of a £26m bid from Leeds, though he recently opted for a move to Marseille. Other potential candidates include Borja Sainz, Nicolas Kuhn, and even high-profile names like Raheem Sterling, though the latter seems ambitious given Leeds’ budget constraints. The urgency to secure a dynamic left winger is heightened by slight injuries to Dan James and Jack Harrison, which forced Aaronson to play out of position on the right during pre-season. A marquee signing in this role could provide the cutting edge needed to compete against Premier League defences.
Finding a Proven Goalscorer
The second priority is a new striker to lead the line in the Premier League. While Leeds have added free agent Lukas Nmecha from Wolfsburg, Farke has made it clear that the club lacks a “difference maker” up front. Current options Joel Piroe and Lukas Nmecha have shown promise in pre-season, with Piroe scoring against Villarreal, but Farke believes neither is ready to be the focal point of the attack in the top flight. Additionally, Farke has confirmed that Mateo Joseph and Patrick Bamford are not in his plans for the upcoming season, with both players potentially leaving Elland Road before the transfer window closes.
The Clock is Ticking
With just two weeks until the Everton clash, Farke has emphasized quality over quantity in the transfer market. “It’s not about the numbers; it’s more about the quality of the players that we bring in,” he said after the Villarreal draw. Leeds have already made significant moves, including defensive signings Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, and Gabriel Gudmundsson, as well as goalkeeper Lucas Perri and midfielders Stach and Longstaff. However, the attacking reinforcements are crucial to ensuring Leeds can compete in a league where newly promoted sides have struggled in recent years. Former West Brom manager Tony Mowbray suggested Leeds may need up to £200m to secure survival, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
