Daniel Farke's fate as Leeds United manager hangs in the balance, and senior figures at Elland Road are growing increasingly impatient. With four defeats in a row and six losses in seven games, the pressure is mounting on the 49-year-old boss to deliver results against two of his toughest opponents: Chelsea and Liverpool.
Leeds find themselves staring relegation in the face, currently sitting in the drop zone alongside Burnley and Wolves. If Farke fails to secure at least one positive result against the Blues or Reds, it's likely that his position as manager will be untenable. The 49ers Enterprises, who own the club, are keen to make a change before the January transfer window opens, with the goal of securing a new manager who can help steer the team towards safety.
Farke has been in charge since last season, when he was given a lifeline by Leeds owner Paraag Marathe. However, his position was always precarious, and he came close to being sacked days after leading the club to promotion last year. Despite this, he was backed to start the season with significant transfer spending - over Β£100m on 10 players. However, some at the club have questioned the quality of the signings, particularly in terms of technical ability.
Only two players - midfielder Sean Longstaff and left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson - are widely regarded as successes, while others like striker Patrick Bamford's departure without replacement raises questions about Farke's recruitment strategy. The lack of attacking options has been a particular issue, with some accusing the manager of favoring physicality over technical quality.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Leeds have a stake in Rangers, who have recently sacked their chief executive and sporting director. 49ers Enterprises vice-chair Paraag Marathe also sits on the board at Rangers, adding another layer of intrigue to Farke's situation.
With Leeds needing to avoid relegation, Farke faces an uphill battle against Chelsea and Liverpool. The Blues will look to build on their impressive form in recent weeks, while the Reds aim to bounce back from a disappointing recent run of results. Either way, it's clear that Farke's future at Elland Road is far from certain.
Leeds find themselves staring relegation in the face, currently sitting in the drop zone alongside Burnley and Wolves. If Farke fails to secure at least one positive result against the Blues or Reds, it's likely that his position as manager will be untenable. The 49ers Enterprises, who own the club, are keen to make a change before the January transfer window opens, with the goal of securing a new manager who can help steer the team towards safety.
Farke has been in charge since last season, when he was given a lifeline by Leeds owner Paraag Marathe. However, his position was always precarious, and he came close to being sacked days after leading the club to promotion last year. Despite this, he was backed to start the season with significant transfer spending - over Β£100m on 10 players. However, some at the club have questioned the quality of the signings, particularly in terms of technical ability.
Only two players - midfielder Sean Longstaff and left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson - are widely regarded as successes, while others like striker Patrick Bamford's departure without replacement raises questions about Farke's recruitment strategy. The lack of attacking options has been a particular issue, with some accusing the manager of favoring physicality over technical quality.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Leeds have a stake in Rangers, who have recently sacked their chief executive and sporting director. 49ers Enterprises vice-chair Paraag Marathe also sits on the board at Rangers, adding another layer of intrigue to Farke's situation.
With Leeds needing to avoid relegation, Farke faces an uphill battle against Chelsea and Liverpool. The Blues will look to build on their impressive form in recent weeks, while the Reds aim to bounce back from a disappointing recent run of results. Either way, it's clear that Farke's future at Elland Road is far from certain.