New odds-on favourite for Leeds manager job emerges as Daniel Farke faces ‘serious sack talks’
Leeds United’s clash with Chelsea on Wednesday night looks set to potentially be decisive for the future of Daniel Farke.
The Whites have fallen into the relegation zone in recent weeks and are currently on a run of four consecutive defeats in the Premier League ahead of their midweek clash.
Football Insider exclusively revealed earlier this week that the Leeds board were encouraged by the improvement that Farke oversaw in the second half of the defeat to Manchester City.
However, the stoppage-time defeat at the Etihad Stadium has left him still firmly under pressure, given the current situation, and there is now a candidate waiting in the wings to take over if the 49ers decide that enough is enough.
Daniel Farke cannot afford Chelsea loss as Gary O’Neil now odds on
Football Insider exclusively revealed on Tuesday that Gary O’Neil is in the frame to take the Leeds job should Farke be sacked, and the cogs may soon be in motion for that switch to take place.
The former Wolves and Bournemouth manager has now risen through the list of names that are in the running for the job and has emerged as the odds-on favourite to take Farke’s position.
The 42-year-old is currently priced at 1/2, making him the heavy favourite for the job ahead of the likes of ex-Union Berlin boss Bo Svensson and former West Brom chief Carlos Corberan.
O’Neil’s ascension through the odds list has coincided with a hugely concerning update from Farke’s perspective.
Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett reported via his X account on Wednesday that the game against Chelsea could be “pivotal” for the German, with the board set for “serious conversations” regarding his future, if the team suffer a fifth straight defeat.
Leeds’ record vs Chelsea spells trouble for Farke
Daniel James is absent for Leeds in their clash with Chelsea on Wednesday, as he has suffered yet another injury setback.
However, the bad omens do not end there for Farke ahead of a game that he simply cannot afford to lose.
| Date | Competition | H/A | Score |
| 28 February 2024 | FA Cup | A | 3-2 L |
| 4 March 2023 | Premier League | A | 1-0 L |
| 21 August 2022 | Premier League | H | 3-0 W |
| 11 May 2022 | Premier League | H | 3-0 L |
| 11 December 2021 | Premier League | A | 3-2 L |
The West Yorkshire outfit have a woeful recent record against Chelsea, having managed just one win in their last 11 meetings with the Blues, in a run that dates back to 2003.
Their sole victory came in the form of a 3-0 win in the Premier League back in August 2022, when goals from Brenden Aaronson, Rodrigo and Jack Harrison sealed a famous win at Elland Road.
Farke will be desperately hoping that his team can find a similarly impressive result this time around, otherwise, it would be hard to shake the feeling that the writing is on the wall for him in LS11.