Leeds United have proven a lot of people wrong so far upon their return to the Premier League.
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer recently admitted they were wrong about their predictions at the start of the season, with both former England strikers initially predicting that Leeds would go down.
But with there currently being an eight-point gap between Leeds and the bottom three, the 49ers are certainly not showing any signs of complacency during the January transfer window, with Facundo Buonanotte joining Leeds on loan until the end of the season.
Leeds have also reportedly made an enquiry to Wolves regarding their striker Jorgen Strand Larsen over a potential deal, but it was one particular signing over the summer that Shearer feels is the key to United’s success so far.
Alan Shearer labels Dominic Calvert-Lewin a ‘clever’ signing
On the latest episode of The Rest is Football, Shearer, alongside Lineker and Micah Richards, did their mid-season review of the Premier League teams.
Whilst United’s captain Ethan Ampadu caught the eye of Richards with his midfield performances, it was the signing of Calvert-Lewin which impressed Shearer the most.
“What a clever signing Calvert-Lewin’s been. He’s (Daniel Farke) got him playing really well, scoring goals,” Shearer said, which only adds further vindication to the 49ers’ decision to take a gamble on the forward over the summer and bring him to Elland Road.
If the 49ers’ January business can garner similar sort of praise from the pundits, then Leeds will likely find themselves as a comfortable mid-table Premier League outfit.
Data suggests Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jorgen Strand Larsen are incredibly similar
If Leeds can secure Strand Larsen’s signature in January, Shearer may have to begin to prepare to praise another Leeds striker at some point this season.
Although the Norwegian hasn’t had the best of seasons up to this point, scoring just one time in 19 Premier League appearances, his data from last season shows he is more than capable of matching the levels of performance we have seen from Calvert-Lewin in a Leeds shirt this season.
(Credit: DataMB)
Last season, Strand Larsen netted 14 Premier League goals, and with the way Farke has proven to be able to revive strikers’ careers already this season, with Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, you wouldn’t put it past the German manager to be able to work his magic once again.
