Unlike in the final days of Marcelo Bielsa or Jesse Marsch, this Leeds United team is no soft touch, with a trip to Elland Road once again a daunting prospect for Premier League opposition.
Just one defeat in the last nine top-flight games of last season says it all, in truth, with Daniel Farke assembling a team of giants, a team of men, to comfortably stave off relegation.
The likes of Harry Wilson have since been brought into the building, but there remains that nagging issue of just where the moments of magic are likely to come from in this team. Has anyone ever truly filled the void left by the likes of Pablo Hernandez or Raphinha, of Georginio Rutter or Crysencio Summerville?
Perhaps it’ll take the signing of Marseille’s Igor Paixao, or another, to really add that extra layer of quality and unpredictability to Farke’s forward line next season.
How Paixao compared to Leeds forwards last season
Looking at Leeds’ attacking unit can feel a little underwhelming at times, particularly in those roles behind the centre forward, with the likes of Dan James and Brenden Aaronson enduring their fair share of peaks and troughs at Elland Road.
The lively Wilfried Gnonto barely had a look in across 2025/26, starting just four league games, with Farke likely to be pinning hopes on the aforementioned Wilson proving an instant hit.
The in-form Welshman did endure a career-best Premier League campaign last time out, scoring and assisting 17 goals for Fulham, prior to his free transfer exit.
As for that man Paixao, who appears to be a £43m target for the Whites, the Brazilian wasn’t quite as impressive in France last time out, despite the buzz around him.
Indeed, in 30 Ligue 1 games, 22 of which came from the start, the 26-year-old scored and assisted just 11 goals, while creating only five ‘big chances’ from his left-wing berth.
|
Paixao vs Leeds Forwards – 25/26* |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Paixao |
6 |
5 |
|
Wilson |
10 |
7 |
|
Calvert-Lewin |
14 |
1 |
|
Okafor |
8 |
1 |
|
Nmecha |
6 |
1 |
|
James |
0 |
0 |
|
Aaronson |
4 |
5 |
|
Gnonto |
0 |
1 |
|
Piroe |
0 |
0 |
|
*League only |
||
That said, he did sparkle on the Champions League stage with four goals and one assist chalked up from just eight appearances in Europe, firmly putting himself in the shop window.
The South American is a talent, that’s for sure, but he’s evidently not the only option on the agenda.
Leeds in the mix for £34m signing alongside Elvedi
Wilson aside, it’s all been about the backline at Leeds so far this summer, with Borussia Monchengladbach defender Nico Elvedi set to sign on an £8.5m deal, following the prior captures of Tarik Muharemovic.
As Football FanCast exclusively reported, Elvedi’s arrival is set to hasten the departure of Sebastian Bornauw, the latter man in line to join Hamburg after just a solitary season in Yorkshire.
The spine of Farke’s side looks strong at present, but the forward line could still do with a sprinkling of genuine quality. Enter, Abde Ezzalzouli.
As per reports in Turkey, Leeds are among the clubs interested in signing the Real Betis star this summer, with the likes of Roma, Aston Villa and Newcastle United also in the mix.
Turkish giants Galatasaray appear to be the headline name in the race as things stand, however, with Betis set to demand a fee of around €40m (£34m) if they are to contemplate a sale.
Leeds do have a fight on their hands to strike a deal, considering that rival interest, but there would certainly be merit in ramping up their pursuit of Ezzalzouli before the deadline.
Indeed, the 24-year-old enjoyed an even more impressive campaign than Paixao last time out, having been in sparkling form for the Andalusian side across 2025/26.
In LaLiga, for instance, Ezzalzouli comfortably bettered Paixao’s return in terms of goals and assists, scoring ten and assisting a further eight.
He also bettered the Marseille man in terms of big chances created (11), while also coming out on top in terms of key passes per game (1.1 vs 1.0), showcasing his superior creative streak.
Typically deployed off the left flank, like Paixao, the former Barcelona man also betters his counterpart in terms of successful dribbles completed per game (1.3 vs 0.9), highlighting just what an all-rounder he is in the final third.
It’s also hard to argue with what Ezzalzouli offers out of possession, averaging a mammoth 6.7 total duels won per game, well ahead of Paixao’s 3.6 in that regard.
If Leeds are to then decide between investing in the Betis sensation or Paixao, there might well only be one winner.
