Daniel Farke reacts to shock Mateo Joseph exit rumours at Leeds United
Daniel Farke says Leeds United receiving a bid in excess of £10million for Mateo Joseph is a “sign of his quality”.
Joseph was the subject of intense interest from Real Betis on Deadline Day (El Desmarque, 3 February) but Leeds rebuffed the offer, as the manager at Elland Road backed the attacking options at his disposal.
The Whites expressed a desire to sign Southampton striker Cameron Archer, but were unable to complete a loan deal.
“We have a striker outstanding at this level for four years – Joel Piroe,” Farke said at his pre-Coventry City press conference on Tuesday (4 February), as quoted by The Athletic’s Beren Cross.
“We have Mateo. Let’s assume the rumours were right with offers for double figures. It’s a sign of his quality. He’s an important, top striker. I [also] value Patrick Bamford.”
Leeds United are the best attacking side in the Championship
Leeds United unarguably boast the Championship’s strongest attack, when wide players and creative midfielders are also taken into consideration.
It comes as no coincidence Farke’s side have notched 60 goals in the league this season – the next highest is the German’s former club Norwich City, joint with Middlesbrough on 49.
Leeds can be admired for continuing to pursue Archer after Piroe grabbed a brace and Joseph ended his goal drought in the 7-0 battering of Cardiff City on Saturday (1 February) – it shows a ruthlessness associated with promotion at all costs.
It will also be interesting to see how Bamford could find opportunities in the coming months when he is fully match-fit.
Farke holds plenty of faith in Joseph, whose contributions go beyond his goalscoring – fortunate when he has only netted three of Leeds’ 60 league strikes.
Piroe can be inconsistent but 12 goals and five assists is not a bad feat for a player criticised as hit-and-miss at times; Dan James, Brenden Aaronson and Manor Solomon have 22 league goals and 13 assists between them.
Archer would’ve been nice – especially when other Championship clubs were busy signing strikers on Deadline Day – but if anyone didn’t need another frontman, it was Farke.
In other Leeds news, the wealth of options for Farke could disappoint and unsettle Wilfried Gnonto.
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