INTERNATIONAL

Leeds eye Arsenal boost as Farke contract talks progress and Internationals shine

📅 October 3, 2026 · By Liberia Sports Live · AI-assisted match report · 👁 3

International Break: Whites Represent in Style

Several Leeds United players have been busy on international duty during the October break. Dan James and Ethan Ampadu were both key figures as Wales produced a memorable comeback win over Norway in Cardiff, with the Leeds duo at the heart of the result. Meanwhile, midfielder Ao Tanaka came off the bench again for Japan as they set up a crucial Nations League final showdown with New Zealand, extending his impressive form for his country. Defender Gabriel Gudmundsson also featured for Sweden and revealed a shirt-swap plan ahead of Leeds' next Premier League clash, while Ilia Gruev was in action as Bulgaria were held to a draw by Estonia.

Farke Contract Talks Ongoing

Manager Daniel Farke's future at Elland Road is a talking point, but there is no cause for alarm among supporters. Reports confirm that Leeds remain confident of agreeing a new contract with Farke, with sources indicating there is no major rush while the club continues to stay unbeaten. The Whites' next league outing comes at Arsenal on October 10, followed by Manchester United at Elland Road on October 18.

Calvert-Lewin and Trafford in the Spotlight

Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been drawing national attention for his finishing form. Data shows his shot conversion rate since late November 2025 ranks among the very best in England. However, former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has publicly stated he does not believe Calvert-Lewin is good enough for the England national team, preferring Liam Delap instead. On the goalkeeping front, Leeds shot-stopper James Trafford has received a significant endorsement from former striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who believes Trafford is good enough to challenge Jordan Pickford for England's number one spot — provided he keeps up his current level of performance.

Arsenal Injury Boost for Leeds

Leeds have received an early boost ahead of their trip to the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal winger Christos Tzolis suffered a hamstring injury after just 18 minutes of Greece's 2-2 Nations League draw with the Netherlands and is now expected to miss two to three weeks of action. That rules him out of the Leeds fixture on October 10. Arsenal are also sweating on the fitness of Kai Havertz, who picked up a hamstring problem on Germany duty. Leeds' own injury concerns include Mateo Joseph, who is recovering from an ACL injury, and Harry Wilson, who is nursing a quad problem that kept him out of the international break.

Transfer Talk

(Rumour) The most eye-catching transfer story circulating around Elland Road is the suggestion that Barcelona are among the clubs monitoring Leeds centre-back Tarik Muharemovic, the 23-year-old Bosnia-Herzegovina international who has drawn rave reviews in the Bosnian media. Leeds are said to have no intention of selling the defender. Separately, reports claim that Arsenal have registered interest in one of Leeds' key stars, though no official approach has been made. On the contract front, Leeds are also working to secure the future of captain Ethan Ampadu despite recent speculation, with the club reportedly not entertaining offers for the Welsh midfielder.

Sources

Share on Facebook WhatsApp X