Dan James has revealed that he told Daniel Farke in his first ever meeting with him that Leeds United was the place he wanted to be.
James had been deemed surplus to requirements at Elland Road late on in the summer of 2022, with Jesse Marsch sanctioning a deadline day loan move to Fulham.
That turn of events was something that annoyed James and during his season away from Leeds, watched his parent club get relegated from the Premier League while he struggled for game time at Craven Cottage.
However, in an interview with BBC Radio Leeds, James has shared how he told Farke of his desire to stay at the club immediately after his return to pre-season, a feeling that was mutual for the Leeds boss.
He said: “I think I came back a little later for pre-season with having internationals and he sat me down on the plan and just said how he felt and that he wants me here. I said exactly the same and having that was really night to hear.”
James and Farke conversation paying off
James had been somewhat losing his way in his career prior to this season, with his first year at Leeds seeing him play most matches out of position as a striker.
He then started just five Premier League matches out on loan at Fulham, who decided against turning the initial loan deal into a permanent move.
Since returning to Leeds, though, James is in one of the best runs of form in his career and has six goals and four assists in 17 Championship matches.
He has formed 25 per cent of a front four that has been deemed ‘unplayable’ at this level by Michael Dawson, alongside Crysencio Summerville, Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter.
Having Farke tell him pretty quickly that he wanted him to be a key player, and having a permanent home, has clearly given him the confidence he needs to go and perform.
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