Daniel Farke ‘risks sack if he doesn’t axe this Leeds star’
Daniel Farke’s future could be uncertain at Leeds United despite his side sitting second in the Championship.
The Whites are level on points with third-placed Burnley but boast a nine-goal advantage due to their goalscoring exploits this season.
There is an increasing worry that Leeds will miss out on automatic promotion after a dismal run that has seen them win just one of their last five matches in the league.
With the race for promotion set to go down to the wire, the Elland Road outfit cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to avoid another heartbreaking finale.
Illan Meslier to get Farke sacked at Leeds
Farke’s future at Elland Road could well depend on his decision-making in the final seven matches of the campaign.
The Whites fell to a 2-2 draw against Swansea which weakened their promotion chances in large part due to Illan Meslier.
The French goalkeeper dropped the ball into the path of Harry Darling for the Swans’ first equaliser and then could have done better to save Jan Vipotnek’s late leveller.
That was just the latest in a catalogue of errors that threaten to derail the Elland Road outfit’s season and could put Farke’s job in danger.
Farke must drop Meslier for Leeds to be promoted
The only solution that Farke has is to drop the 25-year-old in favour of Karl Darlow.
The ex-Newcastle stopper has experience in the Championship having won the second-tier title with Newcastle in the 2016-17 season, making 34 appearances in the process.
| Stats | Meslier | Darlow |
| Matches | 39 | 3 |
| Conceded | 27 | 5 |
| Goals prevented | -2.73 | -1.87 |
| Errors leading to goal | 3 | 0 |
| Minutes played | 3510 | 270 |
He was also a regular in the division with Nottingham Forest earlier in his career and has Premier League experience.
Most importantly, Darlow already has experience playing with Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu, having started in four of the last five matches for Wales at international level.
Farke needs to take Meslier out of the firing line while he is under pressure as if he makes any more mistakes, it could cost the Whites a Premier League berth next season with how close the race for promotion is going to be.
A change could be the difference between getting over the line or failing once again and Farke keeping his role in the dugout.