5 Risks Daniel Farke Is Taking After A Quiet January For Leeds United | OneFootball

The January window closed a few days ago. Elland Road was quiet while the teams around them in the table scrambled to sign anyone they could. Daniel Farke is now looking at a massive run of games to stay in the Premier League.

5 Risks Daniel Farke Is Taking After A Quiet January For Leeds United

It all kicks off tonight in a huge game against Nottingham Forest. Farke clearly trusts the players he already has, but he’s making a few big bets that will decide how this season ends for Leeds.

1. The Striker High-Wire Act

Leeds’ failure to match the money Crystal Palace offered for Jorgen Strand Larsen puts a huge weight on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s shoulders. He is looking for double-digit goals, but fans are always going to worry about his injury record.

With Lukas Nmecha out until mid-February with a bad thigh, Farke is basically praying Calvert-Lewin stays fit. If the number nine goes down, Leeds won’t have a focal point. They would have to use Brenden Aaronson or a kid from the academy in a role that just doesn’t fit them.

2. Midfield Fragility Without Anton Stach

Anton Stach’s latest hip injury shows just how thin the squad is in defensive midfield. Stach was the glue for the backline. Now that he’s out for two weeks, Farke has to mess with a system that was already delicate.

DERBY, ENGLAND – JANUARY 11: Daniel Farke, Manager of Leeds United, celebrates after the team’s victory in the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Derby County and Leeds United on January 11, 2026 in Derby, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu have to do all the dirty work now. There is basically nobody on the bench to give them a rest. Farke didn’t bring in a specialist backup, so if either of those two gets injured, the defence is going to be wide open against teams like Forest.

3. The Goalkeeping Uncertainty

Karl Darlow took Illan Meslier’s spot earlier this year. But the veteran has looked a bit shaky lately, especially when Arsenal put four past them. Farke is sticking with Darlow anyway, which is a big risk for the team’s chemistry.

You need a keeper who can run the backline with confidence. Right now, the constant changes are making the defenders nervous. Starting a keeper who just let in four goals takes some real nerve. If he makes another mistake tonight, the fans might start to lose patience.

4. The Mood After Missing Targets

Fans got frustrated watching the board refuse to pay over £40m for Strand Larsen. It didn’t help that Palace and Forest were throwing money around. This kind of penny-pinching can bum out a dressing room. It makes it look like the owners care about surviving, not actually winning.

Players get a spark when a big name walks through the door. Without that, they have to find their own motivation after a heavy loss. If results do not improve, the narrative of a cheap January will undoubtedly sour the morale at the stadium.

5. Relying on Facundo Buonanotte

Bringing in Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton is a lot to put on one kid. Expecting him to fix the whole attack isn’t really fair. He has plenty of talent, but asking one creative player to do everything alongside Aaronson is a recipe for burnout.

Other teams will figure out he is the main man and just stick two players on him. Farke needs the youngster to settle in immediately. If he struggles with the physical side of a relegation scrap, Leeds just do not have many other ideas.