Daniel Farke on brink as Leeds eye Brendan Rodgers for potential replacement

Daniel Farke’s position at Leeds United has become perilous after Sunday’s 2–1 defeat to Aston Villa, with senior sources telling TEAMtalk that the German is now one bad week away from losing his job. The atmosphere around Elland Road — once energised by promotion — has curdled into frustration, anxiety and, increasingly, resignation. The board may not have acted yet, but the manager stands on thin ice.

The numbers powering that feeling are brutal. Five defeats in six. Two wins in 10. Only 11 goals in 12 Premier League matches. Leeds have taken just one point from losing positions and have conceded first in eight of those games. Their attacking output is the second-lowest in the division, with only Wolves scoring fewer.

The boos that greeted the final whistle on Saturday were not reactionary — they were the culmination of weeks of decline.

Sources inside Leeds insist that faith in Farke has not fully collapsed. His 2027 contract, the emphatic 100-point promotion campaign and the board’s belief that mid-season sackings rarely safeguard Premier League status still count in his favour.

But even those same voices now accept the reality: Manchester City (A), Chelsea (H), Liverpool (H).
A nightmare run that could force their hand.

Another three consecutive defeats, and the conversation shifts from “Should we?” to “We have no choice.”

TEAMtalk understands that Leeds have already begun discreetly sounding out replacements — a clear sign that the hierarchy are preparing for the worst-case scenario.

Sources have confirmed that Brendan Rodgers leads Leeds’ shortlist. The 49-year-old is a free agent after leaving Celtic and has long been admired by 49ers Enterprises for his ability to stabilise mid-table squads and extract rapid improvement.

Crucially, Rodgers is said to be open to the job, which increases the pressure on Farke. It gives Leeds a credible, available alternative at a moment when the Premier League table is tightening fast.

Speaking after the Villa defeat, Farke pointed to a familiar list of obstacles: injuries, the fixture calendar and underlying performance metrics that he believes indicate that results will eventually turn.

“To concede two goals is not good… As good as we are attacking down the left side, we concede too many goals,” he said. “We concede so quickly after the restart… At the moment we are in a period where things are going against us.”

Publicly, he is adamant he can absorb the pressure. Privately, he understands how dangerous November can be. His Norwich City tenure ended in this exact month, after a near-identical slide in performances and confidence.

Promotion was meant to be Farke’s reset — a chance to rebuild his Premier League reputation with a project backed by ambitious owners. But Leeds have not carried any momentum into the top flight. Their defensive shape remains brittle, their attacking structure inconsistent, and their senior players have not stepped up in key moments.

In Farke’s system, the left flank has been excellent — but the right side has repeatedly collapsed under pressure. Leeds concede quick goals after half-time, lose emotional control of matches and struggle to sustain attacking phases.

Fans do not see progress. They see regression.

Having tracked Leeds’ season closely, the most worrying aspect for Farke is not the defeats — it is the pattern. In our view, the team’s structural issues are not improving week to week, and there is little evidence that tweaks or adjustments are addressing their weaknesses.

Although some supporters point to the injury list and fine margins, other indications point differently: Leeds look emotionally flat, defensively stretched and unable to absorb pressure. This seems optimistic for a squad that should be improving, not plateauing.

From experience covering managerial sackings, when boards start contacting replacements — even quietly — the trajectory rarely reverses. Farke must deliver something credible in the next three matches, or the decision will be made for him.

Leeds cannot afford another November like the one that ended Farke’s Norwich tenure. The Premier League offers no patience, and sentimentality does not survive relegation battles. For 49ers Enterprises, the choice is now binary:

Leeds travel to the Etihad next weekend before hosting Chelsea and Liverpool. By Christmas, Daniel Farke will either still be leading the project he built — or Leeds will be searching for a man to salvage their Premier League season.

👉 Leeds fans — should Farke be backed through this run, or is it time for a change?