Not DCL: Leeds star appears to be their finest bargain since Tanaka
Leeds United have significantly transformed their Premier League campaign. At one stage, under the guidance of Daniel Farke, the Whites appeared destined to be labeled as relegation threats, with a troubling five losses during October and November casting doubts on his future at Elland Road.
Currently, the West Yorkshire club is enjoying a four-match unbeaten run, with victories against Chelsea and Crystal Palace propelling Farke’s squad to score seven goals in this span. As a result, the Whites have established a six-point buffer over the 18th position in this challenging league, with Leeds beginning to focus on moving up the table instead of looking down. Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues to emerge as a remarkable addition from summer transfers, with the former free agent now tallying seven goals for the Premier League season, following another impressive performance against the confused Eagles.
Why Calvert-Lewin is crucial for Leeds
Match of the Day analyst Joe Hart even proposed that the former Everton striker would be a “great option” for Thomas Tuchel within the England squad, which isn’t an unreasonable suggestion from the ex-Three Lions goalkeeper. The 11-time England international certainly appears revitalized at present in Farke’s strategy, amassing six goals in his last five matches and proving to be an essential asset as Leeds advance in the league rankings.
Frequently finding himself in optimal positions to convert chances, the 28-year-old looks like an astonishingly wise signing, considering he came in with no transfer fee for a striker who had already netted 57 Premier League goals before departing the Toffees. Naturally, the only worry is whether he might succumb to a prolonged injury layoff, but at this time, he stands out as one of the most remarkable deals in the entire league.
He isn’t the only fantastic deal Leeds secured over the summer, though, as an Ao Tanaka-style acquisition is currently flying under the radar while Calvert-Lewin basks in the spotlight.
The player who stands out as one of Leeds’ top bargains since Tanaka
While the free transfer signing of the Sheffield-born goal scorer is hard to surpass, he does come with a lavish £100k-per-week wage, which indicates he’s costing the West Yorkshire club a significant sum in salary alone. In contrast, Gabriel Gudmundsson earns a modest £40k-per-week, even as he is touted as a “crucial” first team player this season, akin to his previously mentioned Japanese counterpart.
| Stat | Gudmundsson |
|---|---|
| Games played | 17 |
| Games started | 16 |
| Goals scored | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Touches | 56.4 |
| Accurate passes | 24.4 (78%) |
| Big chances created | 2 |
| Ball recoveries | 3.6 |
| Total duels won | 5.7 |
Stats by Sofascore
Ao Tanaka himself claims a £25k-per-week salary. Nevertheless, with two goals already this Premier League season from just seven starts, it’s evident that the former Fortuna Düsseldorf player represents another superb bargain acquired by the top-flight newcomers, costing just £3.5m last summer.
Referring to the table above, the £10m spent on Gudmundsson’s services seems reasonable for a player who is now Leeds’ established starter in the left-back role, with the dynamic Swede consistently winning an impressive average of 5.7 duels this season while fighting for his team’s cause.
It was a bold decision for Leeds to invest that sum in an untested Premier League talent, given that Gudmundsson had primarily competed in the Eredivisie and Ligue 1. However, he has transitioned seamlessly—similar to how Tanaka quickly adjusted to both the Championship and Premier League—earning praise as Leeds’ “best player” from The Athletic’s Beren Cross back in September, an evaluation that has only strengthened after he won a total of 17 duels against Chelsea and Palace, aiding Farke’s team in achieving two notable victories.
Leeds’ clever summer transfer dealings are genuinely reaping rewards, with Farke optimistic that his team will continue to achieve victories, relying on fan favorite Gudmundsson in defense and a rejuvenated Calvert-Lewin leading the attack.
Published: 2025-12-21 17:40:00
source: www.footballfancast.com
