The 49ers signed 10 players to Daniel Farke’s Leeds United squad this summer, but he wanted more attackers to end the transfer window.
Leeds United didn’t sign Harry Wilson, Facundo Buonanotte, or any other profile of left-footed but right-sided playmaker. It leaves them short of some creativity in their forward line this season.
In the end, Leeds fans were left frustrated after deadline day. That came following a positive and productive start to the summer transfer window for the 49ers and Daniel Farke.
In fact, Leeds were tipped to be one of the busiest sides in the market by many. They were very active initially but the spending and stream of incomings slowed, with no more attackers after Noah Okafor’s arrival.
Graham Smyth claims Daniel Farke has sent a warning shot to the 49ers
Leeds’ late lack of spending under the 49ers has been explained recently, even if Managing Director Robbie Evans claims Leeds ‘maxed out PSR’ in the end. Graham Smyth is worried for Farke’s job security.
Even if it is fair to say that Farke is disappointed at the end to the window and that Leeds were restricted financially via PSR, many have not forgiven the 49ers for not bringing in more attacking reinforcements and Farke has a harder task henceforth.
Speaking via The Inside Elland Road Podcast, Smyth explained the warning Farke has sent: “There was a couple of lines, there was a little couple of times that I thought, ‘that’s quite clever that he’s brought that up’.
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“Does he mean to be that clever or is he just being completely transparent? Open, honest, and transparent as he likes to say? Firstly, he started off by saying, ‘look I’m not going to talk nonsense and try and pretend that we didn’t want players in’.
“Because we did. But at the same time he was very quick to try and move on from it. You know, ‘we didn’t get the player. You’re not going to hear me moan about it’.”
Chris O’Connor then asked: “Like you said, I don’t know if sometimes he was playing an unbelievable kind of 4D chess game with some of his answers.
Smyth added: “That was the answer that I thought that was the one that made me think, ‘oh, has he just sent one past the 49ers ears there just to like, you know, just to let them know he’s there?’
“Or is he just being, you know, completely open and looking like these are facts. It’s not like he’s spinning anything here, you know, he’s literally talking facts.
“But then I also thought that he took quite a lot of it on himself and put it on his shoulders and said, ‘It’s up to me. My job is not to complain or talk about how Leeds need to make my life easier. My job is to make the best of what I’ve got.’
“So that’s why I asked him what his actual plan was. What’s that look like? And he said being positive, leading from the front. Team processes will be super important so the team knows how they’re attacking and they know the style inside out.
“Set-pieces he mentioned himself. I didn’t have to bring it up this week. “He ran through a list of things, you know. And, ultimately, between now and January, this is his squad. This is what he’s got. He’s going to have to get the best out of it.
“And it’s going to come down to coaching, preparation, player management, fitness management. And then the players he’s got proving people wrong. Proving that those question marks over their heads are unfair or unwarranted.
“Because there’s a lot of question marks and a lot that needs to be cleared up if before we see this team stay in the Premier League.”
Photo by Harry Trump/Getty ImagesWhich answer is Graham Smyth referring to from Farke to the 49ers?
There are perhaps three examples from Beren Cross over Farke hinting at his annoyance towards the 49ers in the most kind and political way possible.
DF: “Thank God, deadline day is gone, I am focusing on the next game already. We weren’t dancing on the table after that day. I name it how I see it. We have so many fans, I don’t want to navigate around cliffs. I am transparent.” #lufc
— Beren Cross (@BerenCross) September 11, 2025
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The German being so thankful that it is over and that he and the fans can now focus on the football is one possibility.
DF: “Once window closed and I cannot influence it anymore, you will not hear me say a bad word. I don’t want to say different things to what I said before. It would be nonsense to say it was never the plan to add attackers. I adapt to reality. I am there for the players.” #lufc
— Beren Cross (@BerenCross) September 11, 2025
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Farke explaining that he will have to “adapt to reality” now is another possibility, while also mentioning “other attackers” he wanted as well.
DF: “I don’t have any message to the fans. The outside world can criticise or be disappointed. My job is to adapt. I am paid to make the most of what we have. I read the comments and worry about our wingers not being good enough three years ago and we still have them now.” #lufc
— Beren Cross (@BerenCross) September 11, 2025
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Finally, the nod from Farke to comments about the wingers not being good enough. Any of the three examples could be the warning shot he is sending the Leeds hierarchy.