The season is almost at an end with Leeds United having secured promotion, and just one win away from clinching the Championship title. Daniel Farke has accomplished what he had set out to do.
Leeds
could even lose on Saturday and still win the title – they simply have to match Burnley’s result at Turf Moor against Millwall. With 45 league games played, we look at 2024-25’s winners and losers:
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Ao Tanaka reacts on Instagram as Cristiano Ronaldo suffers shock defeat
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The five big winners from Leeds United’s 2024-25 campaign
The likes of Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, Manor Solomon and Junior Firpo have been exceptional – but you expect them to be. The five picked below have gone above and beyond their pre-season expectations.
Jayden Bogle
When
Bogle
joined from Sheffield United, there were concerns over his ability to defend. Much like Firpo on the other side, there were no qualms with his ability to attack – but it was whether he could defend.
Early mistakes and many yellow cards perhaps suggested the doubters were right. However, in the last few months, Bogle has arguably become Leeds’ best player, picked in the TOTS. Absolute bargain at
£5m
.
Karl Darlow
Before his run of six league games,
Darlow
had managed seven appearances since joining in 2023. Had Leeds been promoted or not, Darlow may have had enough and chosen to get out of Leeds this summer.
He might have only played the last six but Darlow’s introduction has been a key factor in Leeds turning their form around and winning promotion. He is showing he can be relied upon in the
Premier League
.
Photo by Cameron Howard/Getty Images
Ao Tanaka
There aren’t many words, adjectives or superlatives left to describe how good
Ao Tanaka
has been.
The nickname Tiger Tanaka, given to him by Daniel Farke
, is apt after what was his first season in England.
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Despite the language barrier, the physicality of the
Championship
, that he had only played in Japan and Germany’s second tier previously – Tanaka has proven himself to be the best midfielder in the League.
Dan James
James
has enjoyed two excellent seasons at the hands of manager
Farke
. But this season, he has reached new heights even if the Welsh speed machine has picked up a couple of injuries throughout the season.
Nine goals and 12 assists does not tell half the story. James has scored crucial goals, magic in important situations – winning goals, winning moments, ultimately winning promotion. Should have been the POTS.
Harry Gray
Perhaps a contentious one given the 16-year-old started the season injured having done pre-season with the senior side, Archie’s younger brother
Harry
has enjoyed a fortnight that others could only dream of.
In the squad after James’ injury vs Stoke, he made his debut to
the tears of great uncle Eddie
. Celebrated in the promotion campaign, and then scored the winner in the National League Cup final. Stupendous.
These are five players that may have enjoyed highs during the promotion campaign, but have failed to live up to expectation compared to the start of the season. Or, have simply underperformed throughout.
Mateo Joseph
During pre-season,
Joseph
was first choice. The Spain U21 striker scored goals in friendlies against Schalke, Valencia and Hannover. But
Joseph
is set to end the 2024-25 campaign with three league goals.
A woeful effort, and it is not as if he lacked the chances. His miss in the 1-0 loss to Burnley and on other occasions remains in the memory. If
Real Betis return with a £10m offer
, surely Leeds have to accept.
Patrick Bamford
Bamford
has won hearts of Leeds fans once again with his recent cameo roles but it cannot be ignored that the no.9 has failed to start a single Championship game – reportedly, he is the club’s top earner.
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Graham Smyth expects Bamford to leave this summer
and while he is now second choice behind Joel Piroe, the one-time England man will enter the final year of his contract and surely, it is the end of an era.
Isaac Schmidt
When
Schmidt joined Leeds for a fee of £4.6m
, he will not have expected to be given such little game time or be publicly berated by Farke. Now a Switzerland international, it has not been all bad for
Schmidt
.
But if he is struggling to get in the side now, where does that leave Schmidt in the Premier League? Some tough questions will have to be asked, given like Bamford, he has failed to start a single league match.
Illan Meslier
Where to start with
Illan
. We all know mistakes against Hull, Portsmouth, Swansea, Preston, Sunderland and plenty of others. He has simply been a liability throughout the season, Leeds’ first 39 matches.
Leeds have looked a better side and the defence more-organised with the experienced head of Darlow between the sticks.
Phil Hay thinks Meslier is “done” at Leeds
and it is hard to believe he will remain.
Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images
Largie Ramazani
A £10m signing,
Ramazani
has brought the vibes certainly in the last fortnight with the winger front and centre of the celebrations and then scoring two brilliant goals against Bristol City as a substitute.
Perhaps through no fault of his own – injuries and Farke preferring James, Manor Solomon and Willy Gnonto – Ramazani has got nothing like the game time he will have hoped for. But potential is there.
