Last summer, no one was more aware of the difficulties associated with promotion to the Premier League than Leeds United manager Daniel Farke.
The German head coach was relegated at Norwich City in 2019/20, was sacked in October after being relegated to the top flight in 2021/22, and was unable to remain in the division despite winning two Championship titles.
However, Norwich never spent more than £9m on a single player in 2019 following their first promotion under Farke, and never spent more than £1m on a permanent contract. This shows that he did not receive enough support to succeed in the top league.
After collecting 100 points in the second tier of the 2024-25 season, the struggles at Carrow Road may have led to doubts about the former Norwich manager’s ability to lead his side to safety.
But the Whites had resources that Falke never had in East Anglia, and they spent their money incredibly wisely with a clever recruitment model.
How did Leeds’ recruitment model become such a hit?
A clear theme throughout the club’s reinforcement work during last summer’s transfer window was to improve the physicality of the squad.
In Lucas Nmeka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Leeds brought in a mobile striker who could run the channels and a strong number nine who could compete with the centre-backs and cause problems for physical defenders.
Xhaka Biyol and Sebastian Bornau, both 6ft 3in, were also signed to strengthen Farke’s options at centre-back, adding further height to the squad. So were the 6ft 2in Sean Longstaff and 6ft 4in Anton Stach in midfield.
Even Noah Okafor, the tricky left winger signed from AC Milan, is 6ft 1in tall and brings speed and physicality to the Whites’ wing, rather than being a lightweight attacker who can easily be bullied by defenders.
Leeds are ranked fifth in the Premier League for aerial duels won per game (18), and none of the teams in the top nine for that particular statistic are in the relegation zone, a trend the club may have recognized last summer.
The physicality-based reinforcement model has worked so far, as Los Blancos sit six points outside the relegation zone, but their signings need quality as well as physicality, and that’s where they really hit the jackpot.
A big-money star is on the rise in Leeds.
One of the club’s signings in last summer’s transfer window has become a star in the Premier League this season, looking like his own version of Arsenal’s Declan Rice.
Anyone familiar with the England international’s heroics on set-pieces in last season’s Champions League against the Gunners will know where this is going.
Anton Stach scored his third free-kick of the Premier League season in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, becoming the first Leeds player to score three direct free-kicks in a season since Ross McCormack in 2013-14.
Arsenal set a club record for Rice by paying £105m to sign the central midfielder from West Ham, and Stutch’s performances this season suggest he is Leeds’ first £100m signing.
Los Blancos spent £17 million to sign the 6ft 4 giant from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim last summer, making him one of the club’s biggest ever signings.
Leeds United’s most expensive contract in history
Who is Los Blancos’ record signing?
Comparing his performances to those of Arsenal’s star players this season, there is no significant difference in their performances, either defensively or offensively, despite the English midfielder being top of the league.
25/26 Premier League | rice | stung |
|---|---|---|
Appearance | 27 | twenty two |
the goal | 4 | 4 |
assist | 4 | 3 |
Tackles + Interceptions per game | 3.0 | 2.7 |
Number of dribble breakthroughs per game | 0.4 times | 0.4 times |
Duels won per match | 4.0 | 5.0 |
Aerial duel success rate | 71% | 64% |
Described as an “incredible discoverer” by journalist Josh Bunting, Stacchi scored as many goals as Rice and averaged the same number of dribbles per game.
Both central midfielders are box-to-box stars and are extremely strong in the air, making many tackles and interceptions in each game as well as contributing in attack.
Stacchi has really hit the ground running in the Premier League, proving that he has both the physical and technical attributes to become a star in that division, especially considering how similar his performances have been to the £105 million signing.
Leeds could land their first ever £100m player if the German giants continue to perform at their current level in the Premier League. Leeds have never sold anyone for more than the £55m they sold Raphinha to Barcelona in 2022.
If he continues to prove he is as influential in and out of the league as Rice, who is valued at £105 million, teams may be willing to pay big for the six-foot four-star player.
Leeds United’s biggest ever sale
Let’s take a look at the departure record from Elland Road.
But it will be up to Stach to be consistent and prove he is not a one-hit wonder in order to attract interest from some of Europe’s top teams.
