Leeds United have a great chance of securing a place in the Premier League at the end of the season, with their recent form helping their chances greatly.
Los Blancos have lost just two of their last 13 league games and are now six points clear of the relegation zone with 12 games remaining.
There is no doubt that manager Daniel Farke’s decision to switch to a 3-5-2 formation has played a key role in their recent success, with such decisions proving to bring out the best in Elland Road’s squad.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is just one of the players who benefited from the move, and has since become the club’s top scorer with 10 goals to date.
However, the same cannot be said for all players, with one of Farke’s first-team members having to leave during the January period to gain valuable playing time elsewhere.
Why Jack Harrison was allowed to leave Leeds in January
Facundo Buonanotte was the only player to join Leeds over the winter, but the club made a number of players leave, with Jack Harrison joining Fiorentina on loan with an option to buy.
The 29-year-old, who spent the past two seasons on loan at Everton, raised eyebrows when he returned to the first team in the summer.
Many felt that the player had burned bridges and was even met with boos and jeers from some supporters when the attacker was introduced onto the pitch.
Harrison played 11 Premier League games in the first half of the season, but only started one of them, after which manager Farke revealed his lack of confidence in him.
Perhaps his most memorable moment was coming on as a substitute against Nottingham Forest, but such appearances will be remembered for the wrong reasons.
The English player was introduced as a left-back, but was unable to cope with Omari Hutchinson’s machinations and was awarded a penalty, allowing the home side to win 3-1.
It is clear that Harrison is no longer at the level required for success in the Premier League, and it now looks increasingly likely that he will play his final game for the club.
Leeds star player who should never play under Falke again
Achieving survival at the top level was undoubtedly a priority for Falke and the team after promotion from the Championship last season, with many pundits expecting the club to go straight back.
The bosses backed the German with £90m worth of reinforcements over the summer and have since helped add players that have made Los Blancos a huge success.
As previously mentioned, Calvert-Lewin was one of the players the board signed during the offseason, making his free transfer one of the best pieces of business done in the entire division.
Joel Pillow, the club’s top scorer last season, has suffered a setback in recent months as a result, making just 11 league appearances and failing to score a single goal.
But the Dutchman is not the only promotion-winning hero to have fallen down the table, with full-back Sam Byram also struggling to establish himself in the squad.
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The 32-year-old returned to the club on a free transfer in the summer of 2023 and has since provided vital depth and quality to a promotion-chasing full-back department.
He made 76 appearances in all competitions during his time in England’s second division, often starting as a regular under manager Farke.
Sam Byram Championship Statistics (2024/25) | |
|---|---|
Statistics (every 90) | tally |
Appearance | 36 |
begins | 16 |
Pass accuracy | 83% |
goals and assists | 2 |
tackle win | 1.2 |
Duel success rate | 55% |
Number of fouls committed | 1.2 |
However, since being promoted to the Premier League, Byram has found it very difficult to find playing time, making just three appearances in all competitions.
He only appeared in one Premier League game, coming on as a substitute for seven minutes in a 5-0 defeat to Arsenal in August.
His last appearance for the Whites was in the FA Cup against Derby County last month, where he played just four minutes, indicating his lack of importance to the team at the moment.
Given the quality of James Justin, Gabriel Gudamundsson and Jayden Bogle, the fan-favorite could find it difficult to get game time and his time at Yorkshire could come to an end.
With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, the experienced defender is likely to leave on a free transfer and move on to pastures new.
This may be a heartfelt decision given his connections with the football club, but it needs to be done in the best interests of the team if they are to reach the next level.
He and Harrison showed they were no longer at the level required to succeed in the Premier League, and both looked as if they had played their final game at Elland Road.
Such a decision will undoubtedly raise important funds for the manager during the summer period, but it could be crucial if the club is to secure a top-flight place by the end of the season.
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