Radebe still backs Daniel Farke (Credits: Imago Images)
The 49ers have ambitious plans to establish Leeds United as a stable Premier League force capable of challenging in the top half of the table in the coming years. However, the looming raid on Nottingham Forest is a reminder of how difficult sustained success can be in the top flight.
Leeds are back in the Premier League, and their early-season performances show that they may end up proving their detractors wrong and survive their first season back among England’s elite.
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Daniel Farke’s side are matching the points haul scored after nine games by Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds team in the 2020/21 season, when they shocked everyone and finished ninth in the Premier League.
Leeds have 11 points from their nine games, and recent history suggests that they could be on course to secure survival in the Premier League in the coming months.
Premier League survival is crucial for the 49ers’ plan to turn the Whites into a £1bn club by 2030, through sustained investment in the squad, increasing the club’s revenue through performances and the expansion of Elland Road.
However, Forest’s turmoil this season and coupled with the impending raid for their best players in the upcoming transfer windows, will provide a valuable lesson to Leeds.
Leeds United will soon learn a brutal truth about the Premier League
Nottingham Forest defied the odds last season when they finished in the top half of the Premier League table and qualified for European football.
However, things have unravelled quickly at the City Ground. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis sacked Nuno Espirito Santo following a personal feud between the two.
His replacement, Ange Postecoglou, barely survived a few weeks before getting replaced by Sean Dyche, who has been tasked with lifting Forest out of the relegation zone.
Within a span of months, the outlook on Forest has changed and more pain is in store, as they are likely to lose one of their best player soon or later.
Manchester United and Newcastle United are closely monitoring Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson and will soon raid the Midlands club to sign him, either this winter or next summer.
🚨🆕 Manchester United and Newcastle are just two of many top clubs closely monitoring Elliot #Anderson. Their interest has already been registered. #MUFC
Forest are aware. Key player. Understand for a transfer in the summer, a fee of around £100–120 million is currently being… pic.twitter.com/Tys3PVUHbe
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) October 27, 2025
Anderson is almost certain to move on from Forest at the end of the season, which will be a brutal display of power from the bigwigs of Premier League football.
Forest, who want at least £100m for the player, would have preferred to hold on to Anderson, but their ambition has changed, and now the big clubs are prepared to raid them.
Leeds have the ambition of breaking into the top half in the coming years, if they survive this season, and they will face a similar challenge if they even threaten to upset the big clubs at the top.
The 49ers must avoid Marinakis’ mistakes, but the challenge will be huge
The Leeds owners have prioritised survival as their biggest goal this season. However, they do not want to be one of those clubs that remain in the bottom half perennially.
They have real ambition and a £1bn dream that sees Leeds challenging at the top half and playing in Europe at some point in the coming years.
However, upward mobility and success in the coming years will bring their own challenges. Marinakis’ decision to sack Nuno was a blunder, and the 49ers would want to avoid making such drastic calls.
But they will also have to deal with the problem of the top Premier League clubs wanting their players in the coming years if Leeds end up pushing up the table.
Clubs such as Brighton and Bournemouth make selling their best players a key piece of their business model, and it has served them well in the last few years.
However, Leeds are different, and the expectations from the fans are different. They are considered one of the biggest clubs in England with a proud history and heritage.
The Whites cannot make selling their best players as part of their business plan, as the expectation will be to keep hold of them.
However, the Premier League bigwigs often get their way and end up picking up the best players from teams trying to break their hegemony at the top.
Liverpool signed Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez, Manchester United picked up Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, and Newcastle snapped up Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa.
If the 49ers succeed in their plans, they will also have to find a way to stop the top clubs from snaring away their best players, or else, they could become another Forest.
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