Daniel Farke’s work in the transfer window has certainly worked better than his predecessor Jesse Marsch, with many of the German’s signings starring over the last 18 months.
Ethan Ampadu is already club captain after becoming Farke’s first signing at Leeds back in the summer of 2023. Joe Rodon has turned his loan permanent, after becoming a rock in the middle of the defence.
In midfield, Ilia Gruev is walking again after his knee injury and he remains a key part of the side. As does Ao Tanaka, who has come in in place of the injured Gruev and Ampadu, while Joel Piroe is the top scorer.
Plenty of new signings during Farke’s era have clicked, unlike that of Marsch’s tenure. Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca, Weston McKennie and plenty of others struggled after being brought to Leeds by Marsch.
One signing made by Farke is giving Leeds a ‘different dimension’
The season-long loan signing of Joe Rothwell from Bournemouth went under the radar in the summer. The 29-year-old had spent the second half of last season on loan at Southampton, scoring four goals.
He was even an unused sub in the play-off final. After injuries to Ampadu and Gruev, Rothwell has come into the side with Tanaka and the duo are impressing. Redfearn praised Rothwell and Tanaka on Saturday.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, former Whites manager Neil Redfearn said that Rothwell is giving Leeds a “different dimension” in midfield. Redfearn said that Rothwell is “absolutely outstanding” on Saturday.
“I have been really impressed with the two midfield players, Tanaka and Rothwell. Rothwell was absolutely outstanding. Maybe for 75 minutes, he absolutely ran it. Just his vision, his touch, his awareness,” he said.
“his range of passing. He just gives Leeds a different dimension. You can’t talk without mentioning the two wide players, Willy Gnonto and Dan James. I thought they were both excellent as well, both involved.”
Joe Rothwell’s stats for Leeds in win over Plymouth on Saturday
Rothwell is not only providing a dynamism in the middle of the park for Leeds alongside the more defensive of the two in Tanaka, but the on-loan ace is also helping Leeds improve their set-piece record.
Joe Rothwell’s stats for Leeds against Plymouth:
- 8.1 rating on FotMob (best of both teams)
- XG and XA (Expected goals and expected assists): 0.45, third highest
- 105 touches (third highest), 83 successful passes, 93 attempted
- Five chances created (best of both teams, second-highest only two)
- Three duels won, three duels lost
What is interesting will be whether Rothwell remains in the side when Gruev and Ampadu return from injury. Stuart Dallas said Rothwell is going to give Farke a headache when the injured duo are fit again.
But for now, Rothwell is one of the first names on the team sheet and will be in the starting line-up on Wednesday night when The Whites take on Millwall away from home, as Leeds look to go top
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