Daniel Farke’s Europe stance clear but rest of transfer window will determine Leeds United's true ceiling — Leeds Live 21/8/26

Leeds United have made cracking transfer progress so far but what happens next is key to their season aims

Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter

Daniel Farke wants Leeds United fans to dream but says he himself must remain realistic. Some are tipping Leeds with an outside shot of European football but the noise inside of the club is different.

Leeds need at least two more seasons to operate as a Premier League regular, says chairman Paraag Marathe, and so another season of survival is a success. Farke on Thursday branded the campaign as a “dangerous” one.

He and club chiefs are aware of ‘second-season syndrome’ where the promotion juices have ebbed away and teams are at risk of falling backwards, as what happened under the great Marcelo Bielsa.

“Do you know how often we have played in the last 25 years in Europe? Zero times,” Farke underlined. “How often have we finished in the top half of the table in 25 years? One time.

“Last season was our second-best finish in the Premier League in more than 25 years. So for that, it's not like okay, right now Europe here we come. Into this trap we went a few years ago.”

What has been different this time around is the type of transfer business being completed - and how much is being spent. Around £80million has been splashed in four arrivals, including a club record £40m for James Trafford.

The quality of the overall squad is higher than that of the second top-flight season under Bielsa, even if it did contain new Barcelona captain Raphinha.

However, Farke has made the point that the improvements that have been made are unlikely to catapult Leeds into a top seven finish.

While there was “not much room for improvement” in regards to upgrades on the departed Karl Darlow and Pascal Sturijk, Farke believes Leeds have managed to find it. However, there are clear caveats.

“We believe that in the mid and long term, James can be unbelievable for us,” said Farke of Trafford. “But he comes from a season where he has not really played much, so it would be unfair to expect right now he plays way better than Karl…

“The same with Struijk, Tarik [Muharemovic] heads into this first season in English football, and I'm realistic. I know it doesn't work like on the PlayStation.

“So we need to give these players time to settle, and this is what I will do. We also need, yeah, some proper experienced players. What we have done with Harry Wilson, or right now, also like with Nico Elvedi in his late 20s [29].”

Also evident is that Leeds need more depth, brazenly so in the striker role. Farke says he is “quietly optimistic” about being able to lure in new signings but it is a fact that the Leeds squad as it is is not safety-proofed.

To not get in that striker, a back-up left-back and a number two goalkeeper would be playing with fire and bring on the risk of getting sucked into a low-table scrap again rather than the mid-table tranquillity they want. There is no guarantee Dominic Calvert-Lewin - or anyone - will have an injury-free season.

The obvious undercurrent is that the recruitment team will be beavering away, with Farke himself brushing aside any comments on his contract to “make sure that we have the strongest possible squad once the transfer window is shut.”

Leeds ended last season with 47 points having initially aimed for a point-per-game - which in the end would not have been enough. But even though the squad has improved, they believe less will be needed for survival this time.

“Our first and foremost target is to achieve 40 points and to make sure that we earn, again, the right also to stay in the best league in the world,” Farke confirmed.

Given the achievements of last season and the growth of the squad, that seems more than achievable. But it might not be enough for 14th place, and anything below that benchmark would come as a disappointment.

Of course, this 40-point aim will only be the objective in regards to survival. They know they need more to finish higher.

The challenge to get a European spot may be a bridge too far but a top 10 finish is certainly plausible. Yet in order to do that, Leeds will need to maximise their whole squad for the duration of the whole season.

And that squad is not yet complete. Eleven days of the window remain and at least two more signings are needed, probably three. Fine, Europe is a step too far but Leeds still need to grow from last year to keep the momentum going and finish above 14th.

Their transfer business so far suggests they could exceed last year’s position - but how the rest of the window pans out will determine how strong this likelihood is.