Daniel Farke has revealed the truth of Leeds United’s transfer approach this season after the club finally secured promotion back to the Premier League.
It was an Easter Monday to remember for Leeds United as they secured their spot back in the Premier League on a dramatic day of Championship action.
Joel Piroe netted four goals to set Leeds on their way as they smashed Stoke City 6-0, with left-back Junior Firpo and Willy Gnonto also getting in on the act.
Everything rested on Turf Moor, where Burnley defeated Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United to secure their own promotion and send Leeds up as well.
Daniel Farke, his players, entire staff and everyone’s friends and families stayed at Elland Road to watch the game and celebrate together once the Premier League was secured.
Farke promised he’d be ‘leading the party’ and getting very merry, but did open up on the struggles the club have been through this season.
In a rare bit of naked honesty from a football manager, Farke even admitted that he did want to sign players in January and had pretended that he didn’t at the time.
Daniel Farke admits he wanted to sign players in January transfer window
Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, Farke opened up on the club’s failure to bring in any additional recruits in January.
“We lost most of key players again and we’re working also under pretty tight restrictions,” Farke said when explained how tough the season was.
“For example, in January, I would have liked to add a few players and a bit more quality but we were not allowed to do this.
“I was a bit jealous, If I’m honest, of some other clubs but also I had to act a little bit and pretend I’m fully convinced.
“I was convinced because I love to work with this group, but it was such a difficult task and such a tight race with so many good competitors.
“Burnley was fantastic, Sheffield United was fantastic, Sunderland was on it pretty long. To finish top two is a great achievement and all the compliments go to my lads.”
This is in sharp contrast with the stance Farke maintained before, during and after January. The manager set expectations low and maintained he didn’t need to strengthen his squad as they sat at the top of the Championship table.
Leeds United’s failed January transfer window was nearly costly
Joe Gelhardt’s loan move to Hull City was the only major change to the squad in the January transfer window, reducing Farke’s options rather than increasing them.
Meanwhile, Sheffield United and Burnley both strengthened considerably.
The Clarets recruited the likes of Marcus Edwards, Ashley Barnes and Jonjo Shelvey, adding experience that has seen them get over the line.
The Blades, meanwhile, signed seven new recruits, including Tom Cannon, Ben Brereton Diaz and Rob Holding.
Leeds were linked with several players and appeared to be targeting attacking reinforcements specifically to help the tiring Piroe and Brenden Aaronson.
A loan move for Southampton’s Cameron Archer was mooted ahead of deadline day but no deal was completed and Leeds are fortunate the players had just about enough energy to get over the line, though they did wobble.
With promotion secured, Leeds will get a big cash injection and a lot of it will have to be spent on improving the squad if they want to survive in the top flight.
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