Leeds United transfer pressure brewing for Daniel Farke as crossroads meets crisis

Competition for Leeds United starts has not been fought more fiercely in many positions than at right-back in recent years. However, this summer presents, at best, a crossroads for Daniel Farke and, at worst, a crisis on the right side of his backline.

Luke Ayling has been a fixture in the north-west and south-east corners of Elland Road for the majority of the past eight years. The number two has generally been every boss’s first-choice at right-back while he’s been on the books, but, as we know, his time in West Yorkshire is over.

The 32-year-old will depart for Middlesbrough on July 1 after, in recent years, scrapping with the likes of Archie Gray, Rasmus Kristensen and Stuart Dallas for supremacy in his preferred role. Calls for better quality in every position come from the terraces each summer, but, generally, Elland Road’s bosses have not had to worry about right-back a huge amount of late.

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Ayling undoubtedly passed on the torch last season to, first, Gray and then a combination of Djed Spence, Connor Roberts and Sam Byram. One season earlier it was Kristensen who seemed to get the edge on Ayling before, as with many others, falling behind the Arsenal youth product.

The competition with Dallas was never really that. The Northern Irishman was so good everywhere he played that Marcelo Bielsa moved him around and he would often cover Ayling when he was unavailable.

For years, there have been what looked like solid succession plans in place for the day Ayling eventually moved on. And yet, in 2024, there are real, sizeable question marks about what Farke does there this summer for next season.

Dallas, who was never really on Farke’s radar, has, of course, retired and follows Ayling out of Thorp Arch this month. While Roberts’s Burnley loan ended after last month’s play-off final loss.

What of the last remaining experienced face in that position, Byram? A contract expiring in a little over three weeks, unless the club’s imminent retained list says otherwise, and following Ayling out the door.

Cody Drameh was the one. The 22-year-old was billed as the heir apparent when he arrived from Fulham and his performances would come to back those hopes up, especially on loan with Cardiff City and Luton Town.

This, when Victor Orta, ex-director of football, and Craig Dean, head of emerging talent, drafted the right-back in, would have been the summer they envisaged Drameh stepping into the breach. Unfortunately, the sliding doors moments Drameh has had in the past two years have not gone his way in Leeds colours.

Jesse Marsch repeatedly talked him up and his need for minutes, but never gave him a chance once Kristensen was in the building. When Farke did eventually give him a go last August, a disastrous 21 minutes at Portman Road, admittedly at left-back, confirmed his already likely exit.

Drameh too is set to wave goodbye for good at the end of this month. And then there is the old faithful, Jamie Shackleton. Ever since Bielsa moved him from midfield to right-back he has looked better out there, but injuries and opportunities have never allowed the academy graduate to build up a head of steam.

And yes, you guessed it, Shackleton’s contract expires, like all the rest, in three weeks. At 24, even if Leeds offered him terms, Shackleton must surely be ready for a fresh start and improved minutes elsewhere now.

The retained list will put one or two of these tentative doubts to rest, but, as it stands, Gray will be welcoming back Kristensen as the only two feasible right-back options for Farke. Although, it seems a very tall order to expect the Dane to get a second chance at Elland Road after last summer’s escape.

Then there is the small matter of Gray’s long-term development in midfield. If the 18-year-old is to remain in the Championship next season, it’s surely as a central cog Farke builds around, not at right-back.

While summer sales will drive a lot of Farke’s wants and needs in this coming window, right-back already stands out as a major department requiring two dependable reinforcements under the German.