Daniel Farke has admitted the prospect of the Premier League already scares him as he sent a bold message to Leeds United’s 49ers owners.
Leeds United are back in the Premier League after a two-year absence by securing promotion on a glorious Easter Monday.
Joel Piroe bagged four goals as Leeds spanked Stoke City 6-0 at Elland Road, with Junior Firpo and Willy Gnonto getting on the score sheet as well.
With Leeds doing all they could, they then relied on Burnley to stop Sheffield United winning to go up and Scott Parker’s team delivered by winning 2-1 at Turf Moor.
While Chris Wilder was forced to congratulate Leeds through gritted teeth, Daniel Farke was in a celebratory mood and eager to get merry.
However, before the party could really get going, he made it clear that Leeds will need to spend big in the summer if they want to survive in the scary Premier League.
Daniel Farke want ‘ambition’ from Leeds United in Premier League
When speaking with Sky Sports after promotion was confirmed, Farke admitted he didn’t even want to think about the Premier League yet, given the struggles of Leicester City, Southampton and Ipswich Town this season.
“First of all, don’t scare me with the Premier League right now,” he said.
“Because all the teams who were promoted last season are already relegated right now, or nearly confirmed.
“You know it was so difficult for this club in the last 25 years, it was just one promotion to the Premier League and then Marcelo [Bielsa] during Covid when no supporters were allowed.
“It’s so, so difficult to work for such an emotional club but we’ve done it.”
Farke then discussed what it will take for Leeds to stay up and made it clear the club would need ‘ambition’ to do so in a thinly veiled plea for the 49ers owners to spend big in the summer transfer window.
He continued: “This first step is always the most difficult.
“We are not allowed at this moment to label us as an established Premier League side, we’ve just played three years of Premier League level in the last 23 years.
“One really good season under Marcelo and then two years of suffering. In the third year, there was a relegation.
“We’ve done the first step and, in a few days, we will work on it to see what we can do.
“We want to become an established Premier League side but lots of work is needed, lots of ambition is needed, but we’ll worry about the stress in a few days. The next few days, we’ll just enjoy the moment and celebrate.”
Leeds United will need to spend big money in the Premier League
Farke also admitted he did want Leeds to sign players in the January transfer window, after previously maintaining he didn’t, but the club were unable to do so.
If they were working with budget issues, then that shouldn’t be as big of a problem this summer as Leeds will be in for a massive windfall after securing promotion.
Several areas of the squad will need strengthening if Leeds are to avoid the same fate as last season’s three promoted sides.
A new creative midfielder to replace the talented but limited Brenden Aaronson must be high on the list, as well as further recruits up front, in midfield and especially in goal, with Illan Meslier dropped and being linked with a move away.
It will take serious investment as well as smart recruiting.
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