Daniel James in danger of following Wilfried Gnonto out of Leeds United

Leeds United have made an impressive start to their second season back in the Premier League, but Daniel Farke still has attacking issues to solve.

The Whites are fifth after going unbeaten through their opening five matches, winning twice and drawing three times.

Goals have not been particularly easy to come by, however. Leeds have scored more than once in only one league match and were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace last time out.

That lack of attacking production puts extra scrutiny on players such as Daniel James, whose Premier League numbers are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Leeds were prepared to make a significant decision over Wilfried Gnonto during the summer.

The Italian had previously been a productive player for the club, registering 18 goals and eight assists across the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns.

However, his effectiveness dropped dramatically following promotion.

Gnonto failed to score across 23 Premier League appearances last season and struggled to create chances consistently. Leeds eventually allowed him to join Fiorentina on loan on deadline day, with the Serie A club holding an option to make the move permanent.

James could now find himself facing a similar situation.

The Wales international was excellent during Leeds' Championship years, producing 25 goals and 16 assists across all competitions in 2023/24 and 2024/25.

His Premier League output has been completely different.

James has now gone 23 league appearances without scoring for Leeds, with his last league goal coming against Middlesbrough in April 2025.

That means the 28-year-old has gone around 17 months without finding the net in a league game.

More concerningly, James has failed to register either a goal or an assist in 22 Premier League appearances since the beginning of the 2025/26 campaign.

He did score against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup last month, but his top-flight production remains an obvious issue.

Farke has already demonstrated with Gnonto that past Championship performances will not guarantee players a long-term place in his Premier League squad.

James still has time to change the situation, but the next few months could prove decisive.

If his league goal drought continues towards January, Leeds may have to consider whether they need another attacking option capable of delivering more consistent numbers.

For a player who was once one of Farke's most productive attackers, that would represent a significant change in status.

James now has the period leading up to the January transfer window to prove that his Championship productivity can translate to the Premier League.

Farke clearly knows what the Welshman can offer in terms of pace and direct running, but Leeds need tangible attacking contributions as they attempt to establish themselves further in the top flight.

If James can rediscover his scoring touch, the conversation around his future could disappear quickly. If the drought continues, however, Leeds may face the same question they eventually answered with Gnonto: whether sentiment and previous performances are enough to justify keeping an attacker who is no longer producing regularly.