Leeds United team news as Daniel James update emerges ahead of Manchester United clash
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has asked for seats on the club’s plane to Norway to be kept open for the likes of Daniel James ahead of their pre-season clash against Manchester United, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
James signed from Manchester United in a then-club record £25m deal in 2021 and was a regular in his first season under Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch before being loaned out to Fulham for the 2022/23 season.
It’s believed that Farke has asked for seats to be open for James and Max Wober as decisions are taken on who goes and who stays back to work on their conditioning.
Leeds Live reported on 31 May that James is expected to stay at Elland Road for the forthcoming campaign and new boss Farke wants the Welshman to feature against their Roses derby rivals in the first pre-season game on Wednesday (12 July).
Part to play
With Leeds United set to lose a number of their top signings over the past couple of years in the likes of Wilfried Gnonto, Luis Sinisterra and Tyler Adams, Farke will be forced to keep a number of those at the club to ensure they are well prepared to challenge ahead of the new season.
James is certainly one of them after these latest reports and the Welshman certainly has a huge part to play in Farke’s new system at Elland Road, and the game against his former club on Wednesday could be the decisive factor in what kind of role he plays under the German.
Wednesday is certainly a chance for James to impress. It’s safe to say the attacker didn’t have the best of seasons at Fulham last year scoring just three goals from his 23 games in all competitions and playing a bit-part role under Marco Silva.
While the lure of the Premier League may be too tempting for James to reject this summer, it seems as if he needs a new lease of life again in the Championship before he can prove himself a step above in the immediate future.
Farke could well provide him with that redemption opportunity.
In other Leeds United news, a Sky Sports journalist has reacted to “insanely exciting” news out of Elland Road.