Leeds United have not been good enough at the top end of the pitch since they earned promotion back to the Premier League by winning the Championship.
The Whites have made club history by failing to score a single goal from open play in any of the first four matches of the league campaign, with their only strike coming from the penalty spot against Everton.
everton-leeds-lukas-nmecha
Lukas Nmecha's spot kick sealed all three points for the Championship champions on the opening day of the season, but they have failed to score in three matches since then.
Leeds reportedly had a bid in for Fulham winger Harry Wilson on deadline day, and felt they matched his valuation, only for the Cottagers to pull out of a deal at the last minute.
fulham-harry-wilson
This meant that the Whites ended the window with Noah Okafor as the only attacking signing brought in for a transfer fee, alongside free transfers for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha.
The lack of business done in the attacking positions has left Daniel Farke with a clutch of players who have previously shown that they are not up to the task in the Premier League, including Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.
Why Leeds are struggling to score goals this season
Speaking to Beren Cross after the 1-0 loss to Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday, Farke challenged his attackers to prove people wrong.
Leeds United's Daniel James, manager Daniel Farke and Mateo Joseph
The German boss said: "James, Harrison, Aaronson with us when we were relegated and they were called hopeless. They still have a point to prove these judgments are not right. We have this type of offensive players and I'm looking forward to improving them, but we shouldn't expect miracles."
Publicly admitting that critics described your players as "hopeless" and that the club have failed to replace them since that 2022/23 campaign is an interesting decision by Farke, and one that, hopefully, spurs the players on to prove people wrong.
But the fact that they have kept those three players, along with Gnonto, as their wide options alongside new signing Okafor, is part of the reason why the penalty from Nmecha in the clip above is the only goal they have scored in the top-flight.
James and Gnonto started the season as the first-choice wing pairing, after Manor Solomon returned to Tottenham Hotspur, and they have not done anywhere near enough at the top end of the pitch.
25/26 Premier League Wilfried Gnonto Dan James
Appearances 4 4
Starts 3 3
Goals + assists 0 0
Shots on target 0 0
Key passes 1 2
Big chances created 0 0
Dribble success rate 17% 25%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, both players have struggled badly in possession so far this season, with no shots on target or 'big chances' created between them after four matches.
This comes after James and Gnonto combined for four goals in 48 appearances in the Premier League for Fulham and Leeds respectively in the 2022/23 campaign, per Sofascore.
gnonto-aaronson-leeds
Relying on players who have previously struggled in the top-flight, instead of bringing in quality replacements, is why the Whites are now struggling so badly in the Premier League this season.
Unfortunately, the West Yorkshire outfit sold a player last year who would solve a lot of the team's current problems in the final third, as Georginio Rutter has proven himself in the top-flight with Brighton.
Leeds sold the France U21 international to the Premier League side for a whopping fee of £40m after the 2023/24 campaign, which was a terrific fee for the club. You cannot blame them for cashing in because it was a release clause in his contract.
However, the Whites, even after winning promotion to the Premier League and having a summer transfer window to recruit more talent, have failed to replace the quality that he provided at the top end of the pitch.
Why Georginio Rutter would solve Leeds United's attacking issues
The left-footed star is a mercurial and versatile attacking talent who would be a difference-maker for Leeds in their current condition, because they lack quality in the final third.
Rutter, who can play centrally or out wide, proved his quality in the Premier League during his first season at Brighton, as he scored eight goals and provided five assists in all competitions, per Sofascore.
24/25 Premier League Georginio Rutter
Appearances 28
Starts 19
xG 4.64
Goals 5
Big chances created 6
Assists 3
Successful dribbles 28
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the French magician delivered 11 goals and 'big chances' created combined in just 19 starts for his current club in the top-flight last term.
He scored as many goals in the Premier League last season as Aaronson, James, and Gnonto managed in their last full seasons in the division combined, which illustrates the kind of goal threat that he can offer.
The left-footed forward's form in the 2023/24 Championship campaign for Leeds also shows that he has far more to offer to the team than Gnonto and James as a creative force.
Per Sofascore, Rutter created a staggering 22 'big chances' and racked up 10.52 xA in 45 appearances in the 2023/24 season. Last term, Gnonto created ten 'big chances' and 3.74 xA and James created 16 'big chances' and 8.66 xA in the Championship for Leeds.
Leeds-Rutter-stats-timeless
These statistics suggest that the £40m-rated star can also create high-quality chances at the top end of the pitch for his teammates more frequently than Gnonto and James.
Rutter, who talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed has "blistering" pace, would be a big upgrade on Farke's current attacking options because of his ability to score and create goals more effectively than the likes of Gnonto, James, and Aaronson.
georginio-rutter-brighton
Of course, it was not a mistake by Leeds to sell the attacker last year, because there was a release clause in his contract, but it now seems like they could use a player with his quality to solve the team's attacking issues in the Premier League this season.