The German took charge of Leeds after their relegation to the Championship at the end of the 2022/23 season, tasked with revitalizing the squad and pushing for an immediate return to the Premier League.
Although the 48-year-old couldn’t guide the team to promotion through the play-offs last year, he has turned things around this season, with Leeds sitting at the top of the table with just eight games left after the international break.
However, the race for automatic promotion remains tight, with only two points separating the top three, as Farke’s side battles Sheffield United and Burnley for a place in the top two.
Regardless of which division Leeds finds itself in next season, several players’ futures need to be resolved, with multiple first-team members either out of contract or potentially on the transfer list.
Leeds Transfer Update Ahead of the Summer
Junior Firpo’s future remains uncertain, with his contract at Elland Road set to expire at the end of June. This opens the door for a pre-contract agreement if any club offers him a deal.
Reports earlier this week suggested that three clubs are in talks to sign the 28-year-old, including Real Betis, one of his former clubs, who are keen to bring him back this summer.
Meanwhile, Kalvin Phillips’ name continues to be linked with a return to Yorkshire after his disappointing spell at Manchester City following his £45m move.
Phillips is expected to leave the Etihad permanently this summer after three years in Manchester, with Pep Guardiola’s side valuing him at around £20m.
Despite the transfer speculation, Farke faces tough decisions regarding his current squad, with at least one player likely to be moved on as a result.
The Player Farke Must Offload This Summer
Leeds’ attack has been firing on all cylinders in 2024/25, with Joel Piroe leading the scoring charts with 15 goals and Borja Sainz the only player in the league to have outscored him.
Daniel James and Manor Solomon have cemented their places in the wide positions, contributing to 33 of Leeds’ 76 goals this season.
In contrast, Joe Gelhardt has struggled to make an impact under Farke and was eventually loaned to Hull City in January after failing to secure regular game time.
The 22-year-old arrived from Wigan Athletic in 2020, with high expectations after being described as “Rooneyesque” by former coach Tim Wyatt due to his physicality and finishing ability.
However, his time at Leeds has been inconsistent. In nearly five years, he has made 58 appearances across all competitions but has found the net just four times.
Despite delivering a few memorable moments, including a last-minute winner against Norwich City in the 2021/22 season, Gelhardt has fallen behind Mateo Joseph and Piroe in the pecking order.
Limited to just three appearances before his January loan move, Gelhardt has since scored three goals in 12 outings for Hull. With his contract set to expire in two years, Leeds may consider cashing in on him to avoid losing him for free.
If Leeds secures promotion, significant investment will be required to avoid an immediate drop back to the Championship. This means some players will need to be sacrificed to strengthen the squad.
Unfortunately, Gelhardt has shown that he’s unlikely to be of Premier League quality if Leeds return to the top flight, making it a tough but necessary decision
for Farke to move him on this summer.
