{"id":401467,"date":"2025-09-06T01:58:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T01:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/401467\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T01:58:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T01:58:15","slug":"49ers-get-their-way-after-persistent-daniel-farke-push-back-at-leeds-united","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/401467\/","title":{"rendered":"49ers get their way after persistent Daniel Farke push back at Leeds United"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke and the 49ers recruitment team had to collaborate this summer to bring in the 10 signings the club made.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean every signing was easy to secure or agree upon, nor every decision which the club made was simple this summer. Naturally in a transfer window, there were disputes over various strategies and players at different points for Leeds United<\/a>.<\/p>\n\nName<\/strong><\/td>\nClub signed from<\/strong><\/td>\nPrice<\/strong><\/td>\nHeight<\/strong><\/td>\nAge<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nAnton Stach<\/td>\nTSG Hoffenheim<\/td>\n\u00a319.9m<\/td>\n6\u20194\u2033<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nNoah Okafor<\/td>\nAC Milan<\/td>\n\u00a318m<\/td>\n6\u20191\u2033<\/td>\n25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLucas Perri<\/td>\nOlympique Lyonnais<\/td>\n\u00a315.6m<\/td>\n6\u20196\u2033<\/td>\n27<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSean Longstaff<\/td>\nNewcastle United<\/td>\n\u00a315m<\/td>\n6\u20192\u2033<\/td>\n27<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nJaka Bijol<\/td>\nUdinese<\/td>\n\u00a315m<\/td>\n6\u20193\u2033<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nGabriel Gudmundsson<\/td>\nLille OSC<\/td>\n\u00a310m<\/td>\n5\u201911\u201d<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nJames Justin<\/td>\nLeicester City<\/td>\n\u00a310m<\/td>\n6\u20190\u2033<\/td>\n27<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSebastiaan Bornauw<\/td>\nVfL Wolfsburg<\/td>\n\u00a35m<\/td>\n6\u20193\u2033<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLukas Nmecha<\/td>\nVfL Wolfsburg<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n6\u20191\u2033<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nDominic Calvert-Lewin<\/td>\nEverton<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n6\u20192\u2033<\/td>\n28<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Leeds\u2019 signings 2025\/26<\/p>\n

Of course, from the sheer size of the signings alone, it\u2019s clear\u00a0Leeds have had to prioritise Premier League physicality<\/a>\u00a0in various guises. The Leeds team is much taller than last season<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Daniel Farke has explained tactical flexibility in the Premier League<\/a> will improve and the\u00a049ers appear to have done their Premier League research<\/a>\u00a0on what it takes to survive by prioritising making the core of the team in a defensive sense.<\/p>\n

\"DanielPhoto by Neal Simpson\/Sportsphoto\/Allstar via Getty ImagesLeeds set to hire a set-piece coach for Daniel Farke<\/p>\n

Even if some final pieces of the puzzle were missed out on,\u00a0set-pieces will be vital to Leeds<\/a> this season. Despite wanting a set-piece taker all summer, Leeds will have to manage with Anton Stach\u2019s surprising deliveries<\/a> instead.<\/p>\n

\n

Leeds United are assembling a cast of giants and have identified set-pieces as one of the potential keys to survival. So they need a taker. Last season’s numbers plus the recruitment so far suggest he isn’t among the group yet.#lufc<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/cUU6RbqHpA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Graham Smyth (@GrahamSmyth) July 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

However, clarity over more work on set-pieces has not been clear until now. Last season, speaking via The Yorkshire Evening Post<\/a> back in 2024, Farke said: \u201cIf you play with these type of players, you get magic and creativity but they rarely come from a set-piece. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf you play with Dan James you get forward running, pace, goals and assists. We don\u2019t have the team who is so strong in set-pieces, that\u2019s a fact.<\/p>\n

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we want to be better because it\u2019s an important topic. [When it comes to the takers] I was not happy how we took corners last season, I think we\u2019re much improved. In the box, we always want to improve. Having Pascal [Struijk] back helps.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI missed this, last season I missed this a lot, not like a specialist [set-piece coach] \u2013 it\u2019s not right now you bring someone in who teach Willy Gnonto to score headers because it\u2019s not possible. I have to praise how much workload we put into this topic, our data people with support from the Americans, we have a company we work with,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n

The transfer window is shut and Farke has his squad. It isn’t quite what he hoped it would be, but what now? <\/p>\n

\u2013 Brownhill dilemma
\u2013 set-piece coach hiring process
\u2013 main man slot and player who should fill it
\u2013 can Farke revive outcast?#lufc<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/5DOsxfLaua<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Graham Smyth (@GrahamSmyth) September 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

Graham Smyth has explained that he understands that the club are in the process of hiring a set-piece coach for the first time in Farke\u2019s reign. There has been a greater focus placed on the area already with analysis and coaching.<\/p>\n

Leeds United News <\/strong>has learnt that Farke pushed back on the idea for a while, based on previous comments about not working on them much. Now, Leeds know they are a team with plenty of height and the issue has been raised once more.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s taken this long for Farke to come round to the idea. Previously, Leeds didn\u2019t have as much need, despite winning plenty of corners and free-kicks in the Championship under the German.<\/p>\n

Naturally, Leeds won\u2019t have as many of them this season. However, it could still be a major differential in games. Farke had every right to push back on the idea with a smaller squad, but Leeds now have the tools and profiles.<\/p>\n

He has agreed to the importance of it, which is why their search has now begun rather than having one in place throughout pre-season and to start the campaign instead.<\/p>\n

\"AntonPhoto by Pat Scaasi\/MI News\/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesWithout an elite set-piece taker, Leeds need more invention<\/p>\n

Without any of Bilal El Khannouss, Harry Wilson, or Facundo Buonanotte, Leeds don\u2019t have an elite taker to deliver regular quality for their taller players. Therefore, the need for routines is more necessary.<\/p>\n

That is perhaps why the 49ers have been able to convince Farke of the idea. Leeds need more variety in terms of types of routine. Farke was not known for this in his previous role with Norwich City, either.<\/p>\n

Arsenal and Brentford are among the best teams in recent years in this respect. Leeds may not have one clinical player in their squad, but instead a spread of goal involvements for the output needed to survive.<\/p>\n

Even if a set-piece coach can add greater creativity and ingenuity to help Stach find Leeds targets,<\/a> as well as some of the \u201cdark arts\u201d in Smyth\u2019s words, then that could and perhaps would make a big difference to Leeds\u2019 goals for column.<\/p>\n