Daniel Farke 'unconcerned' as revealing Leeds United data emerges

Leeds United will not be concerned at all by their significant reliance on set pieces so far this season. 

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who does not believe that the Whites’ proficiency from dead-ball situations should be viewed as a “flaw” in their game. 

This comes after an X post from All Stats Aren’t We outlined that Daniel Farke’s men top the entire Premier League for xG created from set pieces so far this season, with 4.51xG to their name already.

Wyness does not feel that Leeds should be worried about the goals drying up from their set pieces, although he did acknowledge that Farke will be keen to get them creating more from open play. 

By contrast, their tally of 5.23xG created from open play ranks them as the fourth-weakest team in the Premier League in that department.

Leeds have enjoyed a bright start to the new campaign, and sit seventh in the table after just one defeat from their opening seven league games. 

Daniel Farke developing open play solution

Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Farke will be hard at work to find a way to unlock his team’s creativity when the ball is in play. 

The German is unlikely to be concerned by the reliance on set-pieces, but is in no doubt that his team could add another string to their bow. 

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained how Farke will be working on the training ground to boost his side’s creativity. 

“I don't think it's really a flaw because you're scoring goals, whichever way they come from, and set pieces are fine. I think open play can be developed and I think that's what Farke will be working on,” he said.

“We're still early in the season and they're starting to hit their stride and get fitness going. So I think those sort of things can be worked on. But it's a good sign that they're getting those goals from set pieces as well.

“Overall, I'm not that concerned. If they can just keep those set pieces as basics and then the open play can be developed and really start to move them further up the table.

“Right now it's a strong position for them, it's a platform with a chance to go forward but I'm not overly concerned at all about Leeds in any shape or form right now.”

Lukas Nmecha open to pre-contract Leeds exit

Football Insider revealed earlier this week that Leeds striker Lukas Nmecha is “open” to the idea of returning to the Bundesliga next season. 

The 27-year-old is out of contract at Elland Road next summer, and already has interest building in him from the likes of FC Koln back in his homeland. 

Nmecha’s contract situation means that he could potentially sign a pre-contract agreement with a Bundesliga side as early as January, before then completing the move when his deal at Leeds expires.

Leeds have been unable to agree an extension to his deal so far, and would be powerless to prevent his exit on a pre-contract deal.