The Brighton boss confirms he was inquiring about the Leeds player before the summer
Daniel Farke has declared that he is “not the right choice” to stay on as Leeds manager if the club fail to match his interest in the summer.
Farke is asking for support in the transfer window
“I'm ambitious and this is very important for me going forward,” Farke said ahead of Sunday's final home game of the season against Brighton.
“I like attractive football, maybe for the sides at the top of the table, but I like to be a manager who plays for something rather than avoiding something.
“I am not the right choice when it comes to maintaining the status quo. I have to believe in the project and I am at a high level when I buy a project. I can pick and choose what I am sure of.
“Leeds had one good season in the Premier League 25 years ago, the (first) season (back) with Marcelo (Bielsa), and we didn't build on it.
“You have to improve and you have to change. This is what I stand for, so it's important that we talk internally together and trust each other more.”
The German said “there is no doubt in my mind” that he wants to continue in the role as he thanked the owners, his players and the fans of the club following a successful season, which led them to the first semi-final of the FA Cup since 1987.
“There is no doubt in my mind, but it is important that we don't just write an ongoing story,” he added. “I'm full of belief and energy, but we have to talk honestly about what the goals are and what the next steps are and have a vision.
“We had a three-year plan and we have to do the same again. When you're just trying to survive and what happens is what happened last time (when Leeds were relegated in 2023).
Leeds have made a £39m transfer offer for the Wolves star in response
The whites all came in.
“The boxes are set, you have to set new goals and I know what can happen here at Leeds United and how much I believe in this team, but it is important that we are all on the same page because I am not running the club.
“Can we keep our best players, can we get new players? One thing is certain, I'll just lead the project when I'm in charge and we have to talk about it like we did three years ago, honestly, because surviving just one year doesn't make sense.”
Leeds transfer news: Delap, Schuster, Buonanotte
Leeds have already made good moves to try and match their manager's ambitions this summer.
Indeed, the Whites are said to have opened talks to sign Chelsea striker, Liam Delap, and are apparently planning to bring in a new striker with RB Leipzig's Loïs Openda as well.
Leeds also tried to sign defender Jannik Schuster when it became clear that another Red Bull club, Salzburg, were willing to sell him, but Brentford swooped in first and secured a £17m deal.
Leeds have attempted to poach the £17m star who is now set to join the Premier League club this summer
The Whites have been in talks to sign an “outstanding” player.
They also have to decide what to do with loanee Facundo Buonanotte, with Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler confirming this week that he was trying to make contact to find out why the Argentine played just three times for Leeds.
“I'm not there, I'm not in his head, I don't know exactly what's going on,” said the Seagulls manager when asked about the future of the 21-year-old player.
“I'm trying to communicate with our loan managers and I'm trying to understand the situation with individual players but it's always difficult to judge things from the outside and judge things in terms of this.”
Buonanotte has only managed 74 minutes in a Leeds shirt and it would be a surprise if Farke wanted to keep him beyond the summer.
