Everything Daniel Farke has said about Lukas Nmecha as Leeds United exit rumours heat up
Daniel Farke could soon be waving goodbye to Leeds United forward Lukas Nmecha.
The Whites signed the striker on a free transfer after his contract with Wolfsburg expired at the end of the 2024-25 season.
He joined the club for the price of nothing alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as the duo had to prove doubters in LS11 wrong from the off.
Calvert-Lewin has had major success since arriving, but this in turn has affected Nmecha's ability to start games and have an impact.
The Hamburg-born centre-forward's current deal is set to expire at the end of the season, which gives the Whites a chance to receive a fee if they were to sell him in January.
It's unclear at this stage whether Leeds will keep Nmecha beyond the winter window, but what does Farke think of the striker?
Why Daniel Farke still sees value in Lukas Nmecha
Nmecha has been linked with a move to FC Koln ahead of the January window, which followed speculation that Leeds could look to sell him in the winter.
Further rumours have mooted Southampton among other clubs with interest in the 27-year-old.
The 6,1" striker has played eight times in all competitions for the Whites this season, but is yet to find the back of the net.
Farke brought Nmecha on in Leeds' most recent Premier League draw to Manchester United, and the former Norwich City boss was asked why he brought the forward on over other options.
The German head coach said, as quoted by Leeds' official website: "Because they played so deep, it was more important, instead of going for the genius pass, to threaten them with physicality.
"It was not the time for our perhaps technical players who can find the easy little pass. We needed a bit more experience and physicality."
Farke has previously admitted that Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin are similar profiles, but that he is "pleased" with this.
However, Leeds officials may believe that signing a more youthful option could be the best way to replace Nmecha.
What profile would Leeds look to replace Nmecha with?
Given Farke's healthy obsession with physical and experienced options from the bench, it would seem a fairly curious decision to let Nmecha go.
It was only last season when the former Manchester City youth prospect scored the opening goal of Leeds' Premier League-surviving campaign in a 1-0 win against Everton.
Following the result at Elland Road, Farke joked, as quoted by the Express and Star: "Thank God I calmed myself down, and he proved me right with an ice-cold finish. He deserves today to be in the spotlight.
"He’s been excellent. He’s won caps for Germany, but his last couple of seasons were pretty much interrupted by injury."
Leeds looked at signing Conrad Harder from RB Leipzig in the summer, who was one of several young striker targets for the Whites,
Perhaps the club will look once more for a high potential prospect to come in and be the understudy to Calvert-Lewin.