There is plenty to be excited by at the moment, if you are a Leeds United fan. Daniel Farke has made a brilliant start in the fight for Premier League survival, with eight points secured in seven games.
Currently, Leeds sit in 15th place after wins over Everton and Wolves, drawing with Newcastle and then Bournemouth, while losing to Arsenal, Tottenham and Fulham. Losses to London sides will be no surprise.
Despite spending less than Burnley and Sunderland after promotion, Leeds look solid. They have bought well, opting for experience and physicality over technique and finesse, identifying the key to survival.
Gabriel Gudmundsson has replaced Junior Firpo, Danny Murphy thinks Sean Longstaff is one of the best deals of the summer at £15m. Anton Stach is among those to create the most Premier League chances.
Jermaine Beckford picks the signing that has him ‘very excited’
Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues to lead the line well, while more is expected from Lucas Perri, Jaka Bijol and James Justin who have all been signed but yet to make a big dent on Leeds’ push for survival.
But there is only one Leeds player who has scored more than once this season, and that is new arrival Noah Okafor. Speaking to Tribal Football, Beckford is excited by Okafor and what he will do this season.
“Recruitment is so important when you get promoted. The new players have stepped up to the Premier League level; it’s brilliant to see. Okafor has impressed so far and has settled in really well,” he said.
“It’s great to see new players coming to Leeds and performing this way, so very excited to see what can come next for Okafor,” Beckford continued on Okafor, who cost Leeds a fee of £18m from AC Milan.
Noah Okafor has something to fight for, aside from Leeds survival
Okafor will be desperate for Leeds to stay in the Premier League. It is a brave move to join Leeds. The new signings will fancy themselves as Premier League players, but have joined a side threatened with the drop.
However, it is more than just that for Okafor. The winger has not been called-up by Switzerland this term despite being the only Swiss attacker to score more than one goal in Europe’s top-five leagues so far.
Manager Murat Yakin says Okafor is being watched, though his omission is reportedly because Okafor went above Yakin when complaining about a lack of game time at Euro 2024. He needs to score goals.
If he keeps shining in a Leeds shirt and getting his name on the score sheet, Yakin will continue to come under pressure to call him up and inevitably have to give in. A third goal on Saturday, please, Noah.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
