Daniel Farke sends message to 49ers with unbelievable claim amid discord at Leeds United

Daniel Farke has sent a message to the 49ers after the Leeds United transfer window and there is some “chagrin” behind the scenes, says Graham Smyth.

The Yorkshire Evening Post journalist told The Square Ball (2 September) that there is some “chagrin” behind the scenes between the manager and his bosses after a summer where the Whites made four late emergency signings [The Athletic, 16 August] but not everything the German wanted.

Farke called Largie Ramazani, Manor Solomon, Ao Tanaka and Isaac Schmidt “young and interesting” but played down expectations on the grounds they’re unproven at this level, while raising the lack of a number 10 to replace Georginio Rutter.

Smyth said of the latter point: “I asked him why it was so difficult, he talked about the homegrown market being difficult, he talked about, ‘You want the right experience, you want character, you want quality, and if you want they you have to spend an unbelievable amount of money, but the club decided not to do that’.

“When I asked why… he said, ‘I’m not an accountant, I can’t tell you if we had the money to spend’, whilst also noting that they spend quite a lot on [Joe] Rodon and a bit on Jayden Bogle…

“It did feel like there was a bit of chagrin in his words, and I don’t think we’re over-interpreting that, as he would say”.