Daniel Farke, Paraag Marathe, Leeds United.
(Credit: Imago)
Evan Shaw
Sat 28 June 2025 7:30, UK
The 49ers will face several crucial weeks between now and the start of the season as they look to prepare Leeds United for their Premier League return.
The Whites’ chiefs must ensure they strengthen Daniel Farke’s hand as much as possible between now and the early stages of the campaign, or it could effectively seal their fate.
The top table of English football has grown ever stronger since the West Yorkshire outfit were last there in 2022/23, and it is simply no longer enough for teams to solely rely on the players that got them promoted from the Championship.
As a result, every minor part of Leeds’ transfer business will be crucial in the run-up to the season, as they look to give themselves a fighting chance of staying in the division next term.
Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe
Paraag Marathe and the 49ers face a crucial few weeks. (Credit: Imago)
Habib Diarra agrees £30m Sunderland deal
One of Leeds’ main transfer pursuits so far this summer has been over Habib Diarra.
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The 21-year-old impressed for Strasbourg in Ligue 1 last season and has been identified as a potential addition to Farke’s side for several weeks now.
Leeds recently made a new offer of £23.8million to Strasbourg, but they have now been dealt a crushing blow in their bid to sign the midfielder.
News emerged on Friday that Sunderland had made a late bid to sign Diarra, and the Senegal international now looks set to make the move to the North East.
It is now widely reported that the Black Cats have reached an agreement with Strasbourg over a deal worth around £30million, including add-ons.
The medical is now booked in, with a sell-on clause also included as part of the deal.
Apps Goals Assists
102 11 9
Diarra’s Strasbourg stats.
The 49ers have made several impressive moves in the transfer market since taking charge at Elland Road, with deals to bring in the likes of Joel Piroe and Ao Tanaka notable standouts.
However, on this occasion, it could certainly be argued that they have dropped the ball somewhat in their failure to get an agreement for Diarra’s signing over the line, especially because it appears to have come down to just a few extra millions on the transfer fee.
Habib Diarra
Diarra is now set to join Sunderland. (Credit: Imago)
Leeds must quickly turn their attention towards other targets
Leeds also learned on Friday (27 June) that Amadou Kone has rejected their interest to sign for a Saudi Arabian club, capping off what has been a frustrating few hours for them in the transfer market.
The Whites have seemingly now missed out on two key midfield targets within the space of less than a day, and it will be crucial for the 49ers to ensure they nail down the next man that they identify in the middle of the park.
Farke desperately needs additions to the spine of his team if he is to have any chance of keeping his side up, with Joe Rothwell’s departure meaning that Leeds are arguably already weaker in their midfield than the squad that ended the 2024/25 campaign.
If the 49ers continue to allow transfer targets to slip through their grasp due to their failure to take decisive action, it could be a long season at Elland Road.
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