Falke: Leeds United s new players must have good physical fitness, we should avoid signing players in their 30s

August 3, the Daily Mail published an article discussing Leeds United's recruiting strategy this summer in the 25-26 Premier League season.

Leeds United coach Falke emphasized: "Leeds United's new players must have good physical fitness (and have good skills at the same time). We must introduce players in the rising period to avoid signing players who have passed the age of 30 and have begun to decline in their condition." Falke regards physical confrontation and set pieces training as the team's core summer preparations to make up for their shortcomings last season. Data shows that 20.5% of the Premier League goals last season came from set pieces (excluding penalty kicks), and Leeds United needs to strengthen this link to adapt to the intensity of the Premier League. In recent years, the difficulty of relegation of newly upgraded teams in the Premier League has increased dramatically, and all the newly promoted teams in the past two seasons have been relegated in the following seasons. Leeds United internal analysis believes that the strength difference between the Premier League and the Championship is significant, and it is necessary to make up for the ball control disadvantage through physical advantages and set-piece scores.

Leeds United has introduced seven players, including Sean Longstaff this summer. All of these seven players meet the standards of Falk's "at least 5 feet 11 inches (about 1.8 meters) + golden age around 26 years old". Leeds United is still looking for suitable forwards and left wingers in the transfer market, and considering strengthening in other positions.