It will be interesting to see how Daniel Farke’s strategy plays out week by week for Leeds United in the Premier League next season.
The German coach led the Whites to 14th place and an FA Cup semi-final after switching from a 4-3-3 to a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3 formation in the first half of the 2025/26 campaign.
However, the former Norwich City manager has favored a 4-2-3-1 formation for most of his coaching career, with the Canaries, Leeds, Dortmund’s academy, and Borussia Monchengladbach.
The club is reportedly interested in signing Julian Brandt and Harry Wilson on a free transfer, and both players may be expected to start, but the 3-at-the-back formation has only three natural attackers.
With Noah Okafor, Brenden Aaronson, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin already at the club, Farke may look to revert to a 4-2-3-1 in the hope that the new signings will make it work.
Leeds are going up in search of the star of the tournament
The move to a 4-2-3-1 will also create question marks over the field set-up, after the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach, Sean Longstaff, and Ao Tanaka impressed last term.
Brandt and Wilson aren’t the only players on the 49ers’ radar, either, as they are reportedly eyeing a star centerfielder who could be a hybrid of Stach and Farke’s Ampadu.
According to the Daily Mail, Leeds United are interested in a deal to sign Southampton midfielder Shea Charles in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Whites are combining their efforts to land the Northern Ireland international, who they have identified as aiming to improve their options in the middle of the park.
It added, however, that they will face competition from Premier League side Everton and Serie A outfit Atalanta, who are both looking to sign the Saints star.
The Daily Mail report that £20m would be enough to secure his services after Southampton failed to secure promotion from the Championship last season.
The qualities Shea Charles will bring to Leeds United
Commentator Kai Watson once said that Charles “can do everything” in midfield, which is why he can arrive at Elland Road like a cross between Stach and Ampadu.
The Leeds captain was a defensive stalwart in front of Farke’s backline in the Premier League last season, winning 62% of ground duels and 64% of aerial duels in the division.
Stach, on the other hand, provided a high standard at the end of the pitch with a return of five goals and three assists in 29 games in the top division in his first season in England football with the Whites.
|
25/26 Championship |
Sheya Charles |
|---|---|
|
It starts |
22 |
|
Goals |
4 |
|
Great opportunities have been created |
4 |
|
It helps |
2 |
|
Tackle + encounter per game |
2.5 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
57% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
55% |
Like Ampadu, Charles is a controlling and combative midfielder who wins most of his duels on the deck and in the air, meaning opposition players rarely beat him in physical battles.
The Southampton star also offers quality in the final third, however, after producing eight goals and ‘big chances’ created in a combined start of 22 in the Championship last term.
The 22-year-old star also showed his resilience and skill in Northern Ireland’s 3-1 friendly defeat against France earlier this month, providing the assist for his side’s only goal.
Although he has yet to feature in the Premier League, Charles’ form in Northern Ireland and Southampton last season suggests he has the potential to be a key player for the club.
His qualities on and off the pitch also suggest he could be an ideal partner for Ampadu or Stach in a double pivot if Farke goes with a 4-2-3-1 formation next season, as he would be alongside either of them.
He has the defensive and attacking game to offset Stach’s offensive presence, while he has the attacking ability to provide quality on the ball when partnered with the more defensively-minded Ampadu.
Therefore, Charles could be the right player to sign for the Whites if they want to continue to build on the 4-2-3-1 formation that won the competition with 100 points.
