Leeds United are likely to have contingency plans in place in case they have to sack Daniel Farke at any point soon, and many have suggested Jose Mourinho as an option.
Four games is hardly a sample size to conclusively say whether Leeds are going to have a successful campaign under Daniel Farke.
A trip to Wolves this weekend brings big pressure for both managers, and if Leeds aren’t coming away with points, there’ll be uncomfortable questions to be asked.
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Would Leeds United consider sacking Daniel Farke any time soon?
It wasn’t so long ago that speculation was rife on Farke’s job mere days after securing promotion back to the Premier League. That came before the Championship campaign had even finished at Elland Road.
Paraag Marathe emphatically quashed that talk with public backing for Farke, but it begs the question of how long the German’s tether is this season.
Daniel Farke has four points from four games at Leeds United in the Premier League. (REUTERS/Isabel Infantes)
Four games, four points, and being a minute away from three clean sheets is a solid start. However, it goes without saying that Leeds’ alarming lack of goals needs addressing.
The worry for Farke is that the ruthlessness of the Premier League might mean he doesn’t have a great deal of time to get things right in the final third.
Jose Mourinho taking up shock new role despite links to Leeds United
A name many Leeds fans have found themselves suggesting if the time came for Farke to part ways was Premier League icon Jose Mourinho. The managerial veteran had been linked to Elland Road around the same time.
Jose Mourinho became available and was suggested as an option for Leeds United. (REUTERS/Pedro Nunes)
Having left Turkish giants Fenerbahce very recently, the Special One has previously jokingly said he was open to taking over a side lower down the Premier League.
Such comments prompted talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook to suggest Leeds or West Ham could explore a move for Mourinho if Farke or Graham Potter were to leave.
However, that managerial switch won’t be happening. That’s because Mourinho is in line for a shock move to Portuguese giants Benfica. This appointment follows Bruno Lage’s exit, after their home defeat to Qarabag in the Champions League, despite being 2-0 up – per Fabrizio Romano:
🚨💣 BREAKING: Benfica are in advanced talks with José Mourinho after Bruno Lage got sacked overnight! ❤️🤍
Understand Mourinho has opened doors to Benfica move as he wants to return to coaching immediately.
The agreement could be sealed soon. 🦅 pic.twitter.com/RL8eZmn5BY
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 17, 2025
It’s an intriguing job for Mourinho to take up. He achieved legendary status at Benfica’s arch rivals Porto by lifting the UEFA Cup in 2003 and the Champions League in 2004.
Then again, Mourinho’s never been shy of working in both sides of fierce league rivalries. In Spain, he was a coach at Barcelona before ending up at Real Madrid. In England, he’s managed Chelsea twice, London rivals Spurs, and Manchester United.
Leeds United will have contingencies in place for Daniel Farke regardless of whether they are planning to pull the trigger
It’s a simple matter of business for Leeds to have contingency plans in place for Farke having to leave.
That doesn’t mean that Farke is on thin ice or anything like that. But the club have to avoid what happened under Victor Orta’s watch last time we were in the Premier League.
We turned to Jesse Marsch after Marcelo Bielsa, that only worked for so long. Then, when he needed replacing in February 2023, the mad scramble for the right appointment was horrific. Only then, Leeds had a nightmare with Javi Gracia lasting mere months.
The club cannot afford to get any of those decisions wrong, should they come soon.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!