Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media

Pete Hanson

Thu 21 May 2026 8:40, UK

All signs are surely pointing towards a new contract for Daniel Farke at Leeds United.

Farke has often split opinion among the Leeds fanbase, despite leading the Whites back to the Premier League last season – albeit at the second time of asking.

But, with Leeds having safely negotiated their way to survival in the Premier League this season, and reached the FA Cup semi-finals, it is hard to argue that Farke has not earned the opportunity to try and take Leeds to the next level.

The 49-year-old German will soon be entering the final 12 months of his contract, and talks were understandably put on hold earlier in the campaign when it was not clear cut which league Leeds would be playing in.

With that now clear and dry, Leeds will surely not be on the lookout for a new manager any time soon, and it would bring stability to back him with a new deal.

Peter Lowy comments hint at new Daniel Farke deal at Leeds United

Farke himself briefly cast doubt on his future when speaking prior to Leeds’ win over Brighton last weekend, when he declared his “mission fulfilled” at Elland Road.

But he would quickly clarify that he meant his initial objectives set out when he took the job at Leeds had now been achieved and, as such, it would be prudent to set out the next set of goals to work towards the step in building Leeds back towards the upper echelons of English football.

Leeds board member, and lifelong supporter, Peter Lowy said it was an assertion he agreed with when he told the Athletic: “Where Daniel is right, is we need to sit down, which we will do now, and set a new set of goals.

“We had a four-year plan that we did in three. Now, we need another three-year plan. If you look at how I worked at Westfield and how the 49ers work, there are tactical issues and strategic issues.

“What Daniel was talking about was the strategic issue of the long-term plan, how we do it. We need to sit down and do it again because we got there a little early.”

Among those discussions, you would imagine, would be talks about extending Farke’s deal. How can you talk about building for the future if that does not include backing your manager?

Leeds United have obvious clause to insert in Daniel Farke’s contract

And yet, there will still be naysayers around Farke and his ability to really push Leeds to the next level – concerns which, to an extent, are kind of justifiable.

Farke was right to talk about the need to set new goals, and Leeds will be looking towards improvement in the Premier League again next season.

That in itself will bring new pressure to Farke, though, who has never managed a team going for the higher stakes in the Premier League, and the jury is out as to whether he can do that.

But there is quite an obvious solution from a Leeds perspective, which is to offer Farke a longer-term contract but retain some sort of break clause in any deal to protect themselves financially.

If Farke is unable to prove himself in taking Leeds to the next level, what the club don’t want is an expensive payout on their hands – so it would make prudent financial sense but also keep Farke motivated to deliver.

It is the sort of contract contingency plan that would suit all parties at this stage of the Leeds United journey.