The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Tuesday 24th February) Stach – Leeds free‑kick wizard who’s doing so much more
Good Morning. It's Tuesday 24th February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road
Stach – Leeds free‑kick wizard who’s doing so much more
Since the start of last season, nobody in Europe’s top five leagues has netted more direct‑free‑kick goals than Leeds United’s towering midfielder Anton Stach. Three times from dead‑ball situations and counting, with the swerving missile at Villa Park last weekend the obvious pick of the lot.
That strike was his fourth league goal for the Whites this season, with two of the other three also coming from set‑pieces. He lifted the ball over Sa’s wall at Wolverhampton in September from a more central spot, then curled it past Henderson for Crystal Palace at Elland Road from a left‑of‑centre angle in the 4-1 obliteration of Crystal Palace days before Christmas.
Opta measured the Villa Park effort at a whopping 30.9 yards from Martinez’s goal line, assigning it an xG of just 0.04 – in other words, a free‑kick from that distance should hit the back of the net only four times in a hundred tries. Stach only needed one. He now tops the Premier League (jointly with Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai) for free‑kick goals, but his impact stretches far beyond set‑pieces. The 6ft 4in German powerhouse is a midfield work‑horse: his interception rate places him in the top 7 % of European midfielders in 2025, and his tackle success is consistently high. In the air he’s an “aerial fortress”, winning a large share of duels in both penalty areas, a quality that makes him a nightmare for opponents trying to play out from the back.
Daniel Farke has praised Stach’s “spot‑on tactical awareness”, noting how often he sniffs out turnovers before they even materialise. It’s no wonder he leads Leeds’ WhoScored chart with a 7.15 rating, one of the highest in the entire Premier League. The big question now: can Leeds keep hold of him this summer? The club paid £17 million for the midfielder from Hoffenheim last summer, and his market value has already skyrocketed. A theoretical £45 million bid would be hard to refuse, especially for a club with little by way of financial assets. We must remember the club have only raised £6m in fee's since last summer; Rasmus Kristensen to Frankfurt for £5.2m, and an £800,000 loan fee for Jack Harrison.
The 49ers contract conundrum
49ers Enterprises are under pressure to resolve the contracts of ten first team players that are either out of contract this summer, or will have just twelve months remaining. The Elland Road faithful are getting a little twitchy on social media, and understandably so. With Pascal Struijk, Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, Brenden Aaronson, Joel Piroe, and Lukas Nmecha all facing the last year of their contracts come summer, the stakes couldn't be higher.
Struijk and Ampadu, in particular, are shining lights for Leeds and are considered some of the club's most valuable assets. Their performances have drawn attention, not just from fans but also from potential suitors. For 49ers Enterprises, securing extensions for these two should be a high priority. Losing either one could significantly impact the squad's depth and quality, especially if Leeds hopes to solidify their position in the Premier League.
While Gruev and Aaronson may not have guaranteed starting spots, their potential and versatility make them important pieces of the puzzle. Leeds would be wise to avoid losing them for free; you don’t want to watch them flourish in another club’s colours while you’re left empty-handed. Ensuring Premier League survival will undoubtedly make it easier to retain their services, but the clock is ticking, and decisions need making.
On the flip side, there’s the situation with Alex Cairns, Illan Meslier, Karl Darlow, and Sam Byram, who are all also out of contract. While Leeds could simply let them go at season's end, the case of Karl Darlow warrants closer attention. At 35, Darlow's experience can be invaluable, especially for a squad aiming for stability. However, the tricky dance of contract negotiations lies ahead. Leeds may not want to offer more than a year, while Darlow will likely be angling for a longer commitment, an understandable desire as he approaches the twilight of his career.
As the season progresses, the conversation around contract renewals will intensify. If Leeds can avoid relegation, they’re expected to have a transfer kitty of around £120 million this summer. However, they’ll want to prioritise retaining their key players before making any marquee signings, which could require shelling out around £40 million for a single player.
Stach – Leeds free‑kick wizard who’s doing so much more
Since the start of last season, nobody in Europe’s top five leagues has netted more direct‑free‑kick goals than Leeds United’s towering midfielder Anton Stach. Three times from dead‑ball situations and counting, with the swerving missile at Villa Park last weekend the obvious pick of the lot.
That strike was his fourth league goal for the Whites this season, with two of the other three also coming from set‑pieces. He lifted the ball over Sa’s wall at Wolverhampton in September from a more central spot, then curled it past Henderson for Crystal Palace at Elland Road from a left‑of‑centre angle in the 4-1 obliteration of Crystal Palace days before Christmas.
Opta measured the Villa Park effort at a whopping 30.9 yards from Martinez’s goal line, assigning it an xG of just 0.04 – in other words, a free‑kick from that distance should hit the back of the net only four times in a hundred tries. Stach only needed one. He now tops the Premier League (jointly with Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai) for free‑kick goals, but his impact stretches far beyond set‑pieces. The 6ft 4in German powerhouse is a midfield work‑horse: his interception rate places him in the top 7 % of European midfielders in 2025, and his tackle success is consistently high. In the air he’s an “aerial fortress”, winning a large share of duels in both penalty areas, a quality that makes him a nightmare for opponents trying to play out from the back.
Daniel Farke has praised Stach’s “spot‑on tactical awareness”, noting how often he sniffs out turnovers before they even materialise. It’s no wonder he leads Leeds’ WhoScored chart with a 7.15 rating, one of the highest in the entire Premier League. The big question now: can Leeds keep hold of him this summer? The club paid £17 million for the midfielder from Hoffenheim last summer, and his market value has already skyrocketed. A theoretical £45 million bid would be hard to refuse, especially for a club with little by way of financial assets. We must remember the club have only raised £6m in fee's since last summer; Rasmus Kristensen to Frankfurt for £5.2m, and an £800,000 loan fee for Jack Harrison.
The 49ers contract conundrum
49ers Enterprises are under pressure to resolve the contracts of ten first team players that are either out of contract this summer, or will have just twelve months remaining. The Elland Road faithful are getting a little twitchy on social media, and understandably so. With Pascal Struijk, Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, Brenden Aaronson, Joel Piroe, and Lukas Nmecha all facing the last year of their contracts come summer, the stakes couldn't be higher.
Struijk and Ampadu, in particular, are shining lights for Leeds and are considered some of the club's most valuable assets. Their performances have drawn attention, not just from fans but also from potential suitors. For 49ers Enterprises, securing extensions for these two should be a high priority. Losing either one could significantly impact the squad's depth and quality, especially if Leeds hopes to solidify their position in the Premier League.
While Gruev and Aaronson may not have guaranteed starting spots, their potential and versatility make them important pieces of the puzzle. Leeds would be wise to avoid losing them for free; you don’t want to watch them flourish in another club’s colours while you’re left empty-handed. Ensuring Premier League survival will undoubtedly make it easier to retain their services, but the clock is ticking, and decisions need making.
On the flip side, there’s the situation with Alex Cairns, Illan Meslier, Karl Darlow, and Sam Byram, who are all also out of contract. While Leeds could simply let them go at season's end, the case of Karl Darlow warrants closer attention. At 35, Darlow's experience can be invaluable, especially for a squad aiming for stability. However, the tricky dance of contract negotiations lies ahead. Leeds may not want to offer more than a year, while Darlow will likely be angling for a longer commitment, an understandable desire as he approaches the twilight of his career.
As the season progresses, the conversation around contract renewals will intensify. If Leeds can avoid relegation, they’re expected to have a transfer kitty of around £120 million this summer. However, they’ll want to prioritise retaining their key players before making any marquee signings, which could require shelling out around £40 million for a single player.