Leeds United manager Daniel Farke’s future is in doubt after his side lost four of their last five games. Defeats against Burnley and Nottingham Forest, two sides who are also in the relegation dogfight, during this run have seriously dented the lustre around the Whites.
The Whites are still 16th in the table, but their recent performances and results in the Premier League have set alarm bells ringing for a side that scored 100 points in the Championship to get promoted.
Farke is again battling questions about his ability to keep teams in the top flight, and his previous record in the top flight is not inspiring confidence in the fanbase, who are desperate to avoid getting relegated back to the second tier after just one season.
The 49ers are also eager to avoid going down, as their plans to turn Leeds into a £1bn club will be severely dented if they are playing in the Championship again next year.
Daniel Farke’s Leeds United future is being decided upon by the 49ers
Farke was battling questions about his ability in the Premier League going into the new season. His record in the top flight with Norwich City was nothing short of appalling.
However, the German had credit in the bank with the 49ers, who backed him to lead the Whites in the Premier League despite suggestions that he should be replaced following their promotion at the end of last season.
But Farke has failed to respond to his critics, and with Leeds struggling, the pressure is on the 49ers to act decisively and make a decision on his future soon.
The American owners are aware of the mistakes the previous regime committed by sticking with Jesse Marsch for too long in the 2022/23 season, which paved the way for Leeds’ relegation.
They want to be more decisive, but still want to back Farke. There is no appetite in them to sack him immediately.
However, there are suggestions that the axe could get wielded if results do not improve for Leeds in the next four Premier League games.
This is some good news for Farke, but this is where the positivity ends, as Leeds have a daunting fixture list ahead of them. They will be taking on Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and a resurgent Aston Villa side during the next four games.
If the next four games are expected to decide Farke’s fate, the German will need some luck going his way to save his future at Elland Road.
Who could replace Farke?
Farke seems to be walking towards his eventual departure from Elland Road, but Leeds cannot afford to mess up bringing in his replacement.
The Whites remain a big club. However, they will need a firefighter who can come in and get more out of a, frankly, mediocre squad that lacks goalscorers and creativity.
Former Liverpool, Leicester City and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been heavily linked with replacing the German at Leeds’ helm at some point in the next few weeks.
Marco Rose and Bo Svensson have also been mentioned as names who are in the fray to become the next Leeds boss. However, it seems a final decision has not been made yet.
Rodgers makes more sense for Leeds as he is Premier League proven and has the experience needed to keep the Whites in the Premier League.
Rose and Svensson are highly regarded as coaches, but they will have little time to bed in and adjust to the Premier League’s style in the middle of the season.
Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Wolves have already changed managers this season, and we are rapidly approaching the time of the year when boardrooms across the Premier League get twitchy if the teams are not doing well.
Farke is still alive at Leeds, but the 49ers could be forced to make a change soon to save the club from going back down this season.
