Leeds United are determined to move beyond simply avoiding relegation this season, with manager Daniel Farke targeting genuine progress after a promising start to the new Premier League campaign.
The Yorkshire club endured a rocky beginning to life back in the top flight last term, winning just three of their opening 13 fixtures and suffering eight defeats as scrutiny on Farke intensified. However, a pivotal decision to switch from a 4-3-3 formation to a 3-5-2 setup, made during a 3-2 loss to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in late November, proved to be the catalyst for a remarkable turnaround. Leeds lost only five more matches for the remainder of the season and ultimately finished 14th, eight points clear of danger.
Captain Ethan Ampadu reflected on the lessons learned from that difficult opening stretch, admitting the team had been too easily overrun by opponents in the early months. "There were times in the first half of last year where we allowed teams to run over us a bit," he said. "We wanted to get a bit more solid and put our stamp on the game. We want the ball, we want to be attacking and creative."
Away form remains an area Farke is keen to address after Leeds managed just two victories on the road throughout the entire 2025-26 campaign. That context made a recent win at the City Ground particularly satisfying for the German manager. "Away games in Premier League are always difficult," Farke explained. "Sometimes the second year is more difficult. Last season, we picked up many points with draws. On the road, we want to be competitive and be more effective."
Having guided Leeds to safety, Farke had made clear his ambitions for the club, suggesting last season that he might not be the right man to continue if Leeds' aspirations did not match his own. The board responded by backing him significantly in the transfer market over the summer, sanctioning around £80m worth of investment in new signings.
Three of those recruits featured in the club's season opener and offered encouraging glimpses of their quality. Goalkeeper James Trafford, who joined from Manchester City for a British record fee of £45m for a goalkeeper, produced a series of crucial saves to justify his price tag. Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic impressed both defensively and going forward, forcing a save from Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels with a powerful header from a set-piece. Meanwhile, Harry Wilson, who arrived on a free transfer following a productive campaign at Fulham that yielded 10 goals and seven assists, was denied a debut goal only by the offside flag.
Ampadu praised the immediate impact of the new arrivals, saying: "From the very first minute they walked into the building, they have shown their quality. They have shown why they have been brought in to try and help us get to the next level. They've shown that hunger and drive to take Leeds to a better place so that has been very good."
Farke echoed his captain's assessment of the new signings, acknowledging the pressure they faced stepping into key roles. "I am very happy because they have big boots to fill," he said. "Trafford is a good player but he hasn't played that many Premier League games, Tarik too. So they both shined and showed why we agreed to sign them, but the whole group was excellent today. Wilson too was excellent. The vibe and mood is good around the place."
Farke, now the third-longest-serving manager in the Premier League behind Arsenal's Mikel Arteta and Aston Villa's Unai Emery, will hope the combination of established performers and impressive new additions can help Leeds push beyond mere survival this season.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.