Away from the no-show on transfer deadline day, Leeds United have been very frustrating already on their return to the Premier League.
There was a buzz around Elland Road after the Whites just about got the better of Everton on the opening weekend courtesy of a Lukas Nmecha penalty, but that has since unfortunately been followed up by a crash back down to reality when losing 5-0 to Arsenal, on top of a bore draw back on home soil versus Newcastle United.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke applauds their fans after the match
Departing league action, Daniel Farke‘s men were also dumped out of the EFL Cup recently after losing to a Sheffield Wednesday side stricken with squad selection issues.
A poor attack has definitely irked Leeds fans so far this season, as new signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin spurned plenty of chances at Hillsborough.
But, the left-back spot in the side will also make them feel uncertain.
Leeds’ left-back predicament
Away from purchasing reinforcements in the centre-back spot this summer, Farke also had the tough mission of replacing Whites’ regular Junior Firpo in the left-back position.
Firpo would, unfortunately, walk away from West Yorkshire this off-season to move back to Real Betis on a free transfer, having just been fresh off a Championship campaign that saw him collect a whopping ten assists from 34 contests.
With four goals also next to his name, it was a sad ending for a much-loved Elland Road servant. However, the writing might well have been on the wall when considering his past Premier League difficulties, with his last season at the punishing level seeing him collect just one paltry clean sheet.
In the past, the Whites have had to think on their feet in this department, with utility man Ezgjan Alioski often drafted into this spot during his celebrated 171-game stay. He was largely a success story, too, with six goals and seven assists notched up from 66 appearances here.
In the wake of Firpo’s departure, Farke and Co. did swoop in for Gabriel Gudmundsson, with the Swede standing out last time against the Toon with two key passes under his belt, while successfully winning 100% of his duels.
However, the new Leeds signing would limp off towards the end of that closely fought match, with a past Whites ace no doubt a shoo-in for a starting spot on the left channel if he was still situated in West Yorkshire.
The former Leeds star who’d walk into Farke’s XI
The lack of squad depth handed to the German in the transfer window could well come back to bite the Whites, particularly if a relegation dog-fight soon arrives on the menu.
James Justin can play in Gudmundsson’s spot if needed, but the ex-Norwich City manager would love to have Leif Davis at his disposal here in a dream reality, with the 25-year-old an assist king at the Canaries’ arch rivals in Ipswich Town.
Looking at the table below, it’s clear why Leeds must be plagued with so much regret that Victor Orta let Davis move to Suffolk for just £1m back in 2022, with the attack-minded defender now up to an insane 38 assists and six goals for the Tractor Boys.
Davis at Ipswich
Season
Games
Goals + Assists
25/26
3
0
24/25
33
1 + 3
23/24
44
3 + 21
22/23
46
3 + 14
Sourced by Transfermarkt
These numbers wipe the floor with an equally creative Firpo, with his 2024/25 offering arguably a lot more impressive than what initially meets the eye.
The “sensational” 25-year-old – as he has been previously lauded by journalist Stuart Watson – would create 12 big chances in total in the Premier League, despite Ipswich dropping back down to the EFL.
He could well make a world of difference to Leeds right now if he were available for selection; therefore, with Calvert-Lewin perhaps recapturing his goalscoring peak, knowing he has Davis supplying him with chances galore.
With Nottingham Forest being heavily linked to him this summer, it is a shock to see that the one-time £1m man is still in the Championship, considering he’s now worth a far heftier £19m, according to Transfermarkt.
He will no doubt find himself in the luxurious circles of the Premier League again down the line, but until then, Leeds will have to make do with what they currently have, as survival is sought after.