18-year-old wonderkid is heading in the right direction to finish Dan James’ Leeds profession

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke must discover a method to enhance the effectivity of his staff’s offence after one other sport glided by and not using a purpose.

The Whites failed to attain for the third time of their final 5 matches within the Premier League once they misplaced 2-0 to Bournemouth on the Vitality on Saturday.

Both aspect of a 4-1 win over Newcastle United, the West Yorkshire outfit have solely scored 5 targets in eight matches, which illustrates how ineffective their assault has been.

Too lots of Farke’s gamers within the attacking positions have did not step up within the 2026/27 marketing campaign, together with Wales worldwide Dan James.

Leeds want to maneuver on from Dan James

The previous Manchester United winger was chosen to begin towards Bournemouth on Saturday, enjoying as one of many twin quantity tens, however he did not justify his inclusion within the aspect.

James got here off the pitch after 65 minutes with no photographs and no possibilities created for the staff, regardless of enjoying as one of many staff’s three attackers, which illustrates his whole lack of affect within the last third.

He labored laborious for the staff and had loads of vitality, finishing three dribbles and profitable 4 of his seven duels, however the finish product was not there.

The 28-year-old ahead has not registered a shot on course or a key go in 4 appearances within the Premier League this season, which has contributed to the staff’s offensive woes.

Motion Photographs by way of Reuters/Craig Brough

James has now failed to attain or help a single purpose in 23 appearances within the top-flight because the begin of final time period, and Farke should ruthlessly transfer on from him when the January switch window opens as a result of his lack of affect within the last third.

Leeds teen can finish Dan James’ Elland Highway profession

The German head coach could not should dip into the market to discover a direct substitute for the Welshman, although, as a result of there’s a younger participant within the academy who might take his place within the squad.

18-year-old attacking midfielder Callum Mills has been in chic type at Thorp Arch this season and has the potential to make the step-up to the first-team within the coming weeks and months.

Farke has proven up to now that he’s prepared to provide younger gamers a possibility if he believes that they’re ok to play, going again to Mateo Joseph and Archie Grey, in addition to the likes of Max Aarons, James Maddison, and Ben Godfrey at Norwich Metropolis.

The Leeds supervisor is at present watching his aspect struggling badly on the prime finish of the pitch within the Premier League, and unleashing a purpose machine from the academy may very well be one potential resolution for him.

Motion Photographs by way of Reuters/Matthew Childs

Mills is a flexible expertise who can be a superb match for the best way that Leeds play as a result of he has performed in central midfield, as a quantity ten, on each wings, and as a striker, which means that he might go well with one of many twin quantity ten roles.

The teenage ace scored 5 targets and supplied six assists in 31 appearances in all competitions within the 2025/26 marketing campaign, however he has stepped up his stage within the last third this season.

Mills has racked up 5 targets and one help in seven appearances in all competitions this time period, and all six of these purpose contributions got here in his final 5 video games.

The Thorp Arch whiz’s hat-trick towards League One aspect Barnsley within the EFL Trophy needs to be the spotlight of his marketing campaign to this point, as he confirmed that he has the standard and physicality to ship towards a senior staff in a decent league.

While he can play out extensive and as a centre-forward, the English teenager might make his breakthrough at Leeds in one of many twin quantity ten positions behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin, which is the place James at present performs.

His output at youth stage, each final season and within the present marketing campaign, means that the potential is there for him to supply much more to the staff on the prime finish of the pitch than the Welshman.

Due to this fact, Farke might finish James’ profession at Elland Highway by offering Mills with a possibility to step up and take the skilled winger’s place within the first-team squad within the coming weeks.