Leeds United had a big transfer window in the summer; the club felt they needed quality in the team as they prepare to step up to the Premier League.
Most of the signings were players from top leagues around Europe, with the Whites focusing on physical attributes. The aim was to get players who could quickly adapt to the pace and intensity of English football. Daniel Farke got a new goalkeeper, some new defenders, a huge upgrade in midfield areas and some depth in the attack.
Despite the huge spending in the window, not many fans were convinced about the attack. Last season ended with the club having Joel Piroe, Mateo Joseph, Largie Ramazani, Manor Solomon, Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto as regulars in the attack. This summer, the club decided to let go of most of them, leading to questions about who would replace them.
In came Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor. Farke also made the bold decision of deciding to reintegrate Jack Harrison who had been out on loan for the last two seasons.
Graham Smyth demands more from Leeds United star
At the midpoint of the season, it is now fair to give an evaluation on most of the players that came through the door a few months ago. Overall, it has been a mixed outcome. Some players have stood out and had an impact in the team from day one, while others needed a bit of time to adapt to the top flight.
The jury is still out on some signings, and that includes Noah Okafor. The winger has blown hot and cold this campaign, and Graham Smyth pointed it out on this week’s Inside Elland Road podcast:
“Okafor, I think we could still do with a bit more from him, end product-wise in terms of the selection of cross or pass.”
Okafor needs to be consistent
After some flashes earlier on in the season, no one has really seen the impact of the Swiss international. Earlier on in the season he showed that he can be a threat on the ball, running at players. He also found himself in good positions to score, and notched two goals.
| Statistic | |
|---|---|
| Games | 16 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Big Chances created | 2 |
| Key passes | 11 |
But since then, his performances have been mixed – you never know if you are going to get a good game out of him. He has been useful with his pace as a second striker in this new 3-5-2 system; but he has to do more if he wants to remain at the club beyond this year.
