Credit: Imago

James Barker

Sun 10 May 2026 12:10, UK

Dominic Calvert-Lewin‘s link-up play is preventing him from being an even bigger threat for Leeds United.

Few would contest that Calvert-Lewin has been one of the bargain buys of the Premier League season.

Plucked from the free agent scrapheap in this season’s summer window, Leeds decided to take a chance on a reclamation project with the former Everton striker.

Injuries and a lack of production saw his final few years with the Toffees fizzle out, having previously enjoyed a couple of campaigns where he was one of the top-flight’s most dangerous centre-forwards.

Whilst not quite at that level for Leeds this season, he has certainly revived his career at Elland Road, with 13 goals from 36 total games in 2025-26.

Why Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s link-up play needs improving

Calvert-Lewin could make England’s World Cup squad this summer, with Thomas Tuchel sure to be considering the 29-year-old for one of Harry Kane’s deputy roles in his team.

He’s a predatory striker who thrives on getting on the end of crosses, as well as always posing a major set-piece threat give his strength in the air.

With Daniel Farke consistently shifting to a wing-backs approach, his fit in Leeds’ system is ideal, and he should only get more opportunities to score goals next season if the Whites boss sticks with this approach.

However, now that Leeds routinely deploy more numbers in attack, whether that be through wing-backs, numerous attacking midfielders or by playing two strikers, getting quality link-up play from the forwards is crucial.

But, this is where Calvert-Lewin hasn’t been as impactful for Leeds this season, as his underlying numbers relating to this department make for disappointing reading.

As per FotMob, he’s registered a passing accuracy of just 58.9 per cent in the Premier League this season, which ranks him in the bottom 8.2 percentile of top-flight strikers in 2025-26.

Calvert-Lewin has also created only two big chances all season, has been dispossessed 27 times, has just six successful dribbles and has only won 39.1 per cent of his duels respectively.

Noah Okafor sets Calvert-Lewin link-up play example

So, if Calvert-Lewin is to survive in Farke’s new system, his numbers in these areas are surely going to have to improve.

Luckily for him, he’s got a teammate in Noah Okafor who can show him the way, as his numbers in some of those same categories prove why he’s now playing excellent football in a Whites shirt.

Per FotMob, the Swiss forward has a passing accuracy of 76.2 per cent in the league this season, whilst he’s also created four big chances and has made 39 successful dribbles.

If Calvert-Lewin can bring his link-up play to a similar level of that of Okafor’s, then those two combining in attack looks like a recipe for big Leeds United success going forward.