Leeds United will likely be hoping for an finish to their two-year Premier League exile by the tip of the season, seeking to declare promotion underneath Daniel Farke.
The German has finished an excellent job in steadying the ship after relegation in 2023, maintaining the core of the squad and including high quality in wanted areas to bolster their ambitions.
Departures of key gamers over the summer season similar to Crysencio Summerville, Archie Grey and Georginio Rutter have been at all times going to make the duty of promotion troublesome after the play-off ultimate defeat final yr.
Nonetheless, the hierarchy has recruited excellently, including critical high quality with the likes of Largie Ramazani and Ao Tanaka, softening the blow of the high-profile departures.
The impression of the aforementioned duo has allowed the Whites to remain in contact with the main pack within the Championship, producing some unbelievable numbers in the course of the opening months of the marketing campaign.
The impression of Leeds’ summer season additions in 2024/25
Japanese worldwide Tanaka arrived in a £3.5m deal from German facet Fortuna Düsseldorf in the course of the low season, becoming a member of as an unknown amount to the vast majority of the fanbase.
Nonetheless, the 26-year-old has quickly endeared himself to the supporters, producing some unbelievable performances and already seeking to be value way more than what they forked out for his signature.
The midfielder has averaged 74 successful passes per 90 to this point this season – rating him sixth within the division – finishing 92% of the passes he’s tried.
Tanaka completed 114 passes within the victory over Luton City at Elland Street a few weeks in the past, essentially the most by a Whites participant in over a decade – an extra instance of the standard he’s dropped at Yorkshire.
As for winger Ramazani, he was at all times going to face a troublesome activity changing the specter of Summerville, however the Belgian has already proved his value since his switch.
The previous Manchester United academy ace has already scored three and assisted once in his opening ten league matches for the membership – providing Farke a viable choice within the ultimate third.
Nonetheless, Farke should be wishing that he stored maintain of 1 different Leeds star who’s taken his sport to the following degree after departing Elland Street in the summertime.
The previous Leeds ace who’s now just like a £50m star
Midfielder Glen Kamara joined Leeds in a £5.5m deal from Scottish facet Rangers again in the summertime of 2023, trying so as to add high quality in the midst of the park within the first marketing campaign again in England’s second-tier.
It’s protected to say that the Finnish worldwide did simply that in the course of the 2023/24 marketing campaign, featuring 40 times in the Championship final season, usually beginning alongside Ethan Ampadu on the coronary heart of the facet.
Nonetheless, it will be his solely yr in Yorkshire, departing for French facet Rennes, with the chance to function in a high European league evidently too good to show down.
The 29-year-old departed in a £8.5m deal, banking the membership a £3m revenue – permitting them to signal Tanaka who’s to this point been a superb substitute for the departed star.
Regardless of this, Kamara has impressed in Ligue 1 since his transfer, a lot in order that he’s been categorised as a similar player to Manchester United’s £50m signing Manuel Ugarte by FBref.
It’s an enormous comparability given the sizeable switch charge, however when delving into their respective stats from the continuing marketing campaign, the previous Leeds has matched or bettered the Uruguayan in quite a few key areas.
The previous Leeds star has averaged more passes per 90, with extra of his makes an attempt progressive, demonstrating he has the power to play the ball into ahead areas greater than the United expertise.
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How Kamara compares to Manuel Ugarte in 2024/25 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Kamara |
Ugarte |
|
Video games performed |
12 |
9 |
|
Objectives & assists |
1 |
0 |
|
Cross accuracy |
91% |
91% |
|
Progressive passes |
4.7 |
2.7 |
|
Passes accomplished |
57 |
44 |
|
Shot-creating actions |
2.8 |
1.9 |
|
Share of tackles gained |
65% |
50% |
|
Blocks made |
1 |
0.7 |
|
Stats by way of FBref |
||
Undoubtedly, Tanaka has been a stellar addition, and one that might play an enormous position in Farke’s promotion ambitions come Might.
Nonetheless, Kamara – who was beforehand dubbed a “monster” by Steven Gerrard – has demonstrated quite a few key qualities that may’ve massively aided their probabilities, leaving the thought of what might’ve been had they stored maintain of the Rennes ace.
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