Leeds make their move to sign £13m star before the World Cup

Daniel Farke deserves a serious amount of praise for the way in which he has revived Leeds United. Before Christmas, it looked as though the Whites were heading back to the Championship.

Farke has been something of a relegation specialist when in the Premier League but the decision to stick with him at the back end of 2025 has been vindicated.

The German has kept them in the division and they will be aiming to build on what has actually been a rather impressive first campaign back in the top-flight.

Supporters will thank Farke but they must also thank the recruitment team; plenty of their new signings have been hits.

Leeds looking to sign another Stach

Last summer, while Sunderland lavishly spent on the likes of Habib Diarra, Robin Roefs and Granit Xhaka, those at Elland Road had a slightly different tactic.

Leeds were a lot shrewder in the market and it has worked. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha were both signed on free transfers but even when they did spent a bit of money on the likes of Noah Okafor and Anton Stach, they have enjoyed rich success.

One of the primary goals of last summer was to fill the squad with physical specimens. In Stach, Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha they certainly did that. You can file Jaka Bijol in that category too.

Well, a year on, they could land another physical player in the shape of USA star Tanner Tessmann.

That’s according to reports in France this week that suggest Leeds have already made their move to sign the 6 foot 2 midfielder in what could be a bargain move.

Jeunes Footeux report that Leeds ‘want to finalise a move quickly’, ideally before the World Cup where interest in Tessmann could ramp up.

It’s noted that an offer could come in from the Yorkshire side, who will be able to wrap up a deal for a price of £13m. It’s suggested that if any suitors bid that amount, Lyon will allow the American to depart.

Why Tessmann could be another Stach for Leeds

It’s safe to say that Calvert-Lewin and Okafor have stolen most of the recent headlines at Elland Road.

The former is comfortably their top scorer with 15 goals in all competitions while Okafor, before his injury, was enjoying a rich vein of form with six goals and three assists in his last ten outings.

Yet, Stach has been the glue of the team, the player holding everything together. Like those aforementioned, he has also had some magic moments. That free-kick against Aston Villa was truly special.

A midfield monster, he has represented a signing that rather typified last summer’s business. Standing at 6 foot 4, he is a mountain in the middle of the pitch and ranks as highly as the top 16% of midfielders in the Premier League for aerial duels won with 5.87 per 90 minutes.

While Tessmann may not be quite a physical as that, standing at 6 foot 2, he does rank within the best 25% of midfielders in the French top-flight for aerials won per 90.

What makes them most similar? Well, they can make an impact in a whole variety of phases, whether it be defensively or in the final third.

“He’s a complete midfielder,” said his former teammate Gianluca Buzio when they were together at Italian side Venezia. That’s certainly a good way to describe Stach too.

While has has only scored twice in two seasons since joining Lyon, at Venezia in Serie B he showcased his true credentials in offensive phases, scoring seven times and and assisting three goals. Stach, for context, has five goals and three assists this term for Leeds.

After moving to Ligue 1, Tessmann has worked hard on his defensive game. He ranks as highly as the top 13% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for expected threat prevented.

Between them Stach and Tessmann make a mightily impressive number of ball recoveries per game. Their primary function in the team is to win the ball back and then progress play. Leeds’ German midfielder makes 5.40 recoveries per 90 to the American’s 6.62.

It’s safe to say neither midfielder are one trick ponies. When it comes to progressing play they are rather alike. The Lyon star averages 3.55 progressive actions per 90 (carries and passing forward) to Stach’s 3.63.

Sure, Tessmann may not be the most exciting additon that Farke and Co could make this summer but he’d add plenty to this Leeds midfielder. He’s a hard worker and can impact play at both ends of the pitch. What’s not to like?