Daniel Farke makes ‘tricky’ Leeds United admission as player exodus on the cards at Elland Road
Daniel Farke concedes Leeds United are going through “tricky times” this transfer window.
Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Brenden Aaronson have all departed on loan due to clauses in their contracts following relegation from the Premier League.
Other stars are predicted to depart too, with Rodrigo, Marc Roca, Willy Gnonto and Tyler Adams among a plethora of first-teamers having been linked with an exit.
New boss Farke recognised the Whites, beaten 2-0 by Manchester United in Oslo in their first game of pre-season, will be in a tough situation until the window closes at the end of August but called for everyone, including the fans, to put on a united front.
In quotes reported by Leeds Live, he said: “We have, of course, already lost a few players and everyone knows about the situation.
“They went out on loan so we don’t get any money out of this. It’s a situation after relegation. There are a few clauses and we have to accept it. It’s no complaining about this.
“The situation is like it is. We just have to make sure and have to be fully aware this will never happen again in the future. We accept the situation and we know it’s a difficult task, but if it would be easy everyone could do it.
“I’m looking forward to bringing solidity and stability into the staff and we have to wait until the end of August, that’s the truth, and until then we won’t know who is really with us for the whole season.
“We just accept the situation and my confidence is we have so many good people in this club and so many people who work unbelievably hard for the club. Everyone knows we are in a bit of a tricky situation as a club.
“I totally trust our supporters because my feeling is, because I follow this club for many years, when it really counts, and the times are really difficult, then we stand together as one unit and this feeling I have today only just after a few days.
“I know until the end of August, they are tricky times, but we need our supporters, especially during this time, even more, they need to carry us a little bit and our responsibility is to work unbelievably hard to fulfil our expectations and also our and their ambitions. We’re trying to do this.”
You can sense the frustration
Daniel Farke is making exactly the right noises.
He is praising the people behind the scenes at Leeds United, he is praising the club’s passionate fanbase, and he is trying to get everyone singing from the hymn sheet ahead of a crucial season.
But you can sense the frustration. Leeds have already lost a lot of talent for no monetary return and several other members of his squad look certain to exit during the six months.
It is not the ideal scenario for the German to be competing with. Farke is working a group of players full in the knowledge some of them will not be there by the end of August.
By the same token, until he knows which players are staying and which are going it is extremely difficult for Farke to know which incomings to sanction, if he even can sanction them yet.
There is some optimism with the takeover of 49ers Enterprises due to receive the green light, but with the kick-off to the new campaign fast approaching Leeds need to find some quick resolutions.
In other Leeds United news, Rodrigo has been offered an irrefutable deal to quit Elland Road.