After a season of worry, Daniel Farke is set to emulate Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds once again.
Having secured promotion out of the Championship, they are now about to back that up by remaining a Premier League side for a consecutive season.
At one stage, it looked like Farke would get the boot but a system change midway through the campaign has not just kept him in the job but transformed Leeds’ fortunes.
The hope will be that the German does not emulate Bielsa’s second season in the top-flight, one that ultimately ended in disaster. How they do could well depend on recruitment, and they’re already planning that as we speak.
Leeds looking to sign £50m-rated youngster
To their credit, Leeds strengthened well last summer and they will have to do so again if they have any desires of remaining in the league again.
One of the standout additions has been that of Noah Okafor who, like Morgan Gibbs-White at Nottingham Forest, has come alive during the run-in.
The winger has run hot and cold this season but is now in the form of his Leeds career, notably bagging a brace against Manchester United nine days ago.
While Okafor wasn’t quite as rampant last weekend, he did register another two more goal involvements, scoring and assisting against Wolves.
Well, with the Old Gold now officially relegated, it’s the Molineux outfit Leeds could turn to first in their bid for new recruits.
That’s according to TEAMtalk, who report that four of Rob Edwards’ players have captured the eyes of the recruitment chiefs at Elland Road.
One of those players is £25m-rated defender Ladislav Krejci who looks a certainty to leave the Midlands behind at the conclusion of the season.
It’s reported that after the game on Saturday, Leeds chiefs held discussions with the Wolves hierarchy about Krejci, as well as a number of other players, including midfield pairing Joao Gomes and Andre.
Perhaps most exciting was the talks that centred around Mateus Mane, one of the breakout stars of this Premier League season and one of the very few bright sparks at Molineux.
That said, with previous reports detailing a £50m price tag amid interest from Manchester United, this one won’t be straightforward.
How Mane could be another Okafor for Leeds
Since signing in the summer for £18m from AC Milan, Okafor has been the very definition of a streaky player.
That’s not a bad thing per se, but Farke has no doubt been frustrated with his winger knowing what he can deliver when at full pelt.
All of the Swiss winger’s goal involvements this season have come in short periods of positivity.
His first two Leeds goals came within three games of each other, bagging against Wolves and Tottenham at the end of September and beginning of October.
His next two Premier League goals came in consecutive games against Forest and Chelsea in February while at the moment, he’s posted four goal involvements in his last two matches.
Noah Okafor’s last five league matches
Match
Goals
Assists
Forest (H)
1
0
Chelsea (A)
1
0
Brentford (H)
0
0
Man Utd (A)
2
0
Wolves (H)
1
1
He’s been electric either side of a hamstring injury and is coming good in Leeds colours at exactly the right time.
Direct, aggressive with his running and fleet-footed, Leeds could sign a very similar player in the shape of Mane.
Just 18 years of age, he’s been one of the best young players in the division this term and while he has only scored twice, registering a further two assists, it does not paint the full picture of this teenager’s season.
Capable of playing anywhere across the front line, including on Okafor’s favoured left side, he’s made a notable difference in that position, as well as behind the striker, and as a centre forward.
Analysing the pair, it’s clear their best work comes from a central area. Both of Mane’s Premier League goals have come while playing as an attacking midfielder, while Okafor has four goals in five games this season playing in the same position.
Where else are they alike? Well, they create a similar number of chances per 90 minutes with Leeds’ Swiss forward providing 1.2 per 90 minutes. Mane has created one per 90, for context.
Furthermore, they’re both incredibly difficult players to stop in transition. Okafor has completed 2.2 take-ons per 90 in the Premier League this season, the most in the Leeds squad. Meanwhile, Mane has been fouled 1.7 times per game, the highest in the Wolves side.
Perhaps the most exciting part about this move is that they could quite easily play in the same team, with one wide left and the other through the middle.
£50m is a steep fee no doubt, but if they can negotiate that even £15m lower, they’d have a cracking deal on their hands.
To have made such a big impact in his debut Premier League season at his age is no mean feat. He’s set to have a fantastic career at the top level.
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