Credit: Breaking Media/Manh Tung

Scott Mason

Sat 30 May 2026 12:10, UK

Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be looking forward to continuing his successful career at Leeds United next season, and that could be boosted by the arrival of Mauro Junior.

Daniel Farke has not been scared to shift away from his style of play, and that lack of stubbornness was ultimately what kept the Whites in the Premier League.

Before he switched things up at Elland Road in November, the LS11 side looked destined for relegation.

The German was fortunately blessed with a profile of player that allowed the change to be implemented effectively, and now he could be looking for a new evolution of this Leeds outfit.

Ahead of Leeds’ transfer business, Mauro Junior could add another layer of depth to their style of play.

Why Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be keeping close eye on Leeds’ interest in Mauro Junior

With Leeds’ interest in Mauro Junior emerging, one man who will have a keen eye on the creative left-back will be striker Calvert-Lewin.

The Englishman will be looking to improve on his 14-goal tally from this season, but he will need help from creative players in order to do so.

Mauro Junior would certainly provide a new level of creation for the Whites next season, with the Brazilian racking up nine assists in just 26 Eredivise appearances in 2025-2026.

Additionally, the 27-year-old averages 1.3 key passes per game, while he has a 34 per cent crossing accuracy – a success rate higher than any fullback or wingback options currently at Elland Road.

Additionally, he also averages a big chance created every second game played. Those statistics are certainly a striker’s dream, and with that level of creation, he could improve on his already fantastic numbers.

Should Gabriel Gudmundsson fear a diminished Leeds role?

Leeds’ interest in Mauro Junior could signal a reduced playing time for Gabriel Gudmundsson next season, but that may not be entirely the case.

The PSV star, who has won three Eredivise titles, is capable of playing in numerous positions, having split his time between midfield and defence in 2025-2026.

Additionally, if the Brazilian does play over him, that would likely be in games where the Whites are expected to dominate the game, with his creativity an asset that the Swede has not been able to provide.

Compared to Mauro Junior’s numbers stated previously, Gudmundsson managed to create just 2.75 expected assists and finished with a total of zero, and it took quite some time for him to net his first goal too.

The 27-year-old may feel unlucky, considering his four big chances created did not lead to any goals, but he also only averages 0.7 key passes per match too.

Competition for a place is required, though, and despite Gudmundsson enjoying a solid season at Elland Road, sentimentality at the top level should be the least of Leeds’ worries.

If an upgrade is on the market, Farke should not hesitate.