Daniel Farke expects Leeds to add to squad before close of transfer window

Posted Saturday, August 24, 2024 by PA

Leeds boss Daniel Farke said he was expecting several new arrivals after his side kick-started their Sky Bet Championship promotion bid with a 2-0 win at Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

Brenden Aaronson and Daniel James were both on target as Leeds secured their first win of the season, running out worthy winners at Hillsborough after being held by Portsmouth and West Brom in their first two league matches.

Farke said: “We definitely need a few more signings if we want to be ambitious because with a squad of 12 or 13 senior players and a handful of players with barely 20 games under their belt, for this ambitious and emotional club it is not possible.

“We have a good group to build on. That’s what we’ve shown today but we definitely need a few additions and this will also happen over the next coming days.”

Leeds limited Wednesday to one chance and could have added further goals as Mateo Joseph and James were both denied by home goalkeeper James Beadle.

Farke could not hide his relief at the final whistle as he celebrated with the travelling fans, who are anxiously waiting for new signings following several key departures.

“This emotional club – everybody is panicking. But we are not panicking. We are convinced of what we’re doing,” Farke said.

“I definitely need a few additions, that’s definitely for sure but if we do this we are on a good path and I’m pleased for the lads.

“The players should be in the spotlight but it is a habit from my former club Norwich and the Leeds fans knew this and it’s a good habit – after a win I celebrate with them and give my appreciation to them.

“If they urge me to do this I can’t say ‘no I don’t want to’. We’ve had some difficult times, especially in the last two weeks in terms of all the outgoings and all the rumours and the panicking.

“Our supporters are always excellent, always behind us and they deserve right now to celebrate at the weekend a bit and if I can show my appreciation for them and what they do for the team, I do this and can’t say no.”

Wednesday slipped to back-to-back defeats after their opening-day win against Plymouth and manager Danny Rohl offered an honest assessment.

The 35-year-old German said: “Firstly, I think we played against a strong side. They showed over 90 minutes all their quality.

“We knew this, we wanted to try, but we didn’t have so many chances and especially with the second goal, from my point of view it was too easy in a five against one situation where we’ve not covered deep.

“To take something, you have to do all the basics right, and we didn’t. So we deserved to lose.”