Manager says Leeds United player Daniel Farke let go is ‘phenomenal’

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Leeds have badly struggled for goals so far this season.

12 games in the Premier League have yielded just 11 goals in total from Leeds – three fewer than Erling Haaland has scored on his own.

Neither Dominic Calvert-Lewin nor Lukas Nmecha have truly stood out, and Daniel Farke has now seen a striker he let go for this season in Mateo Joseph hailed by Atletico Baleares boss Luis Blanco.

Leeds United told Mateo Joseph is an “excellent” and “very powerful” forward

Leeds loaned the Spain U21 international to Mallorca back in August, agreeing to let the striker spend the entire 2025/26 campaign in La Liga.

Joseph has impressed with two goals and two assists in 12 appearances so far, and his former Espanyol coach Blanco has now heaped praise on him during an interview with Cope.

The 47-year-old said: “A very good lad and a very good player. I was happy he returned to the Spanish league after a few years at Leeds. He went there when he was with us at Espanyol. A phenomenal lad with excellent qualities for playing as a striker – intuitive, very powerful. I think he can be a great asset to Mallorca’s attack.”

Joseph is not the only loanee shining away from Leeds.

Joe Gelhardt is in remarkable form for Hull, netting six goals in his last seven Championship appearances while also providing two assists in that space of time.

Can Leeds recall Mateo Joseph?

Leeds do have the option to bring Joseph – who is reportedly annoyed at Farke – back to Yorkshire in January if they see fit to do so.

Regardless of whether that option is activated or not, Leeds also made sure not to let Mallorca negotiate an option to buy the Spaniard on a permanent basis.

That decision suggests the 49ers do see a future for Joseph back at Elland Road, but he will need to have a strong second half of the season to prove himself worthy of a chance next term.