Leeds United forward Noah Okafor is Leeds United’s top scorer this season and he has had an impressive start, matching Jack Grealish of Everton in one respect already.
Leeds United’s recruitment was criticised by many but Noah Okafor has hit the ground running after arriving from AC Milan in the summer transfer window.
Okafor impressed and got off the mark for Leeds against Wolves, but he has followed that up after Okafor’s goal against Wolves helped break Leeds records, joint with Anton Stach and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Okafor’s goal against Spurs was centimetres away from being disallowed but it was his second since moving to the Premier League from the Serie A giants. West Yorkshire has breathed new life into him.
Everton's Jack Grealish takes on Leeds United's Dan James
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Noah Okafor joins Jack Grealish in impressive feat
With Okafor feeling bullish about Leeds and their chances after an impressive win away from home against Wolves, he was unfortunate to be on the losing side for Leeds’ first home defeat of the season and in over a year.
His goal was the best moment, but Okafor’s dribbling, which has broken Premier League records, then set up the second best chance of the game. He drove at the heart of Spurs and played in Dominic Calvert-Lewin for a snapshot at goal.
It’s fair to say Calvert-Lewin and Okafor have a partnership forming and an understanding building as two of the most crucial components of Leeds’ front three.
His directness is interesting, given the speed and power with which the wide player can move. In fact, Okafor has been one of European football’s most impressive dribblers so far this season.
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With Leeds’ Swiss forward rubbing shoulders with Kylian Mbappe, there has now been a further development. Okafor’s take-on numbers from Squawka on X (formerly Twitter) are most impressive.
They have revealed the most take-ons completed in the Premier League this season, with Spurs’ match-winner from Saturday top of the pile after making life difficult for Pascal Struijk and co.
Mohammed Kudus has 30, which is far more than any other. In joint-eighth with Chelsea’s Estevao and Everton’s Man City loanee Jack Grealish is Okafor with 11.
Grealish is renowned for his dribbling and ball-carrying ability, with 11 take-ons coming from 556 minutes of action. Okafor, on the other hand, has the same number from just 308 minutes of action.
Daniel Farke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United
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Lucas Radebe was frustrated at Okafor’s ball retention following the 2-1 defeat at Elland Road. However, the man the 25-year-old would most want to impress was enamoured by him.
Daniel Farke loved Okafor against Tottenham. He told TNT Sports: “He was one of the many positives.
“I was pleased that against such a good side like Tottenham. We were able to be the better side. Many, many positives, and Noah was one of them.”
Per FotMob, the only players with over 0.4xG+xA per 90 and to have over 300 minutes for Leeds are Okafor and Calvert-Lewin, unsurprisingly.