REUTERS/David Klein
Leeds United hit the jackpot last year when they swooped to sign central midfielder Anton Stach from German side Hoffenheim for a fee of around £17.4m.
The Whites took a risk on the 6 foot 4 star because he had never played in England before arriving at Elland Road, but it was a risk that ultimately paid off for the club.
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In his first season in the Premier League, the Germany international delivered five goals and three assists in 34 appearances for Daniel Farke's side, showcasing his attacking quality in the division.
Unfortunately, though, the 27-year-old star has endured a difficult start to the 2026/27 campaign and is yet to show the same level that he displayed last term.
Why Anton Stach has been underwhelming this season
Stach started the campaign in impressive fashion when he scored a late free-kick away at Nottingham Forest to win the game on the opening day of the season for Leeds.
The German giant has failed to score a goal or create any 'big chances' for his teammates in the subsequent six matches in all competitions, though, and his lack of contributions in the final third has been coupled with too many sloppy moments on the ball.
So far this season, the former Bundesliga talent has lost possession 92 times without creating a 'big chance' for the Whites in the Premier League, losing the ball 18.4 times per game on average.
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Stach (Premier League) 25/26 26/27
Appearances 29 5
xG 2.92 0.97
Goals 5 1
Key passes per game 2.2 1.2
Big chances created 9 0
Assists 3 0
Pass accuracy 77% 69%
Possession lost per game 14.3 18.4
Stach has been underwhelming in the top-flight this term because he has been far more loose with the ball, giving away possession more frequently, and has not provided enough quality to make up for his lapses in concentration.
REUTERS/David Klein
His struggles in general play mean that his position in the team, certainly in the long-term if his form does not turn around, could be called into question.
Leeds are already brewing their successor to Anton Stach
Thankfully, for Farke, Leeds may already have their long-term successor to Stach in the central midfield role, and he is currently going through a development phase that could see him follow in the footsteps of Premier League star Elliot Anderson.
Joel-Piroe
Everyone in English football knows Anderson as the £116m-rated Manchester City defensive midfielder who starts almost every game for England, but his first breakthrough at senior level came playing as an attacking player on loan at Bristol Rovers in League Two.
He scored seven goals and provided six assists in 21 matches for the Gas on loan from Newcastle United in the 2021/22 campaign, before he went on to star for the Magpies, Nottingham Forest, and, now, Manchester City.
Anderson developed the technical side of his game by playing further forward at a lower level before returning to play in a deep-lying midfield position, and Leeds academy graduate Sam Chambers could follow down the same path.
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The Scottish youngster is currently out on loan at Northampton Town in League Two for the 2026/27 campaign, and has been utilised as a winger in both of his starts in the division so far this season.
At academy level, though, the 19-year-old typically played as an attacking or central midfielder, like Stach does in the first-team, which shows that he is going through the same phase that Anderson went through when he went to League Two.
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26/27 League Two Sam Chambers Rank vs wingers
Successful dribbles 1.88 Top 8%
Dribble success rate 100% Top 1%
Long pass accuracy 66.7% Top 5%
Duels won 7.50 Top 19%
Duel success rate 52.2% Top 48%
Tackles won 3.13 Top 13%
Aerial duels won 1.88 Top 46%
Despite playing as a winger, Chambers has mostly excelled in areas that you would expect a central midfielder to excel in; winning duels, making tackles, playing long-range passes.
The Scotland U21 international, who made his senior debut against Plymouth in 2024, is currently honing his central midfield skills at senior level, whilst playing in a more attacking position where he can afford to make mistakes.
Anderson's development was aided by going through a similar process as a teenager at Bristol Rovers in League Two, and Chambers has already shown that he has the makings of a combative and technically impressive midfield talent in his first three outings this term.
Leeds have their own version of the Manchester City and England superstar brewing out on loan, and it is down to the club to handle the next steps after this season correctly to ensure that he fulfills his potential.
REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff
If Chambers returns to Elland Road next year and kicks on as a central midfielder as a result of his experiences as a forward out on loan, Stach could be the one in danger of losing his place because of his struggles in the Premier League recently.