Leeds United were busy throughout the summer transfer window as they looked to build a squad that was capable of competing in the Premier League.
Eight points in seven matches, despite playing Newcastle, Spurs, and Arsenal already, suggests that they have been competitive in their return to the top-flight.
There are still a few question marks over some of Daniel Farke’s summer signings, though, including first-choice number nine Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Why Dominic Calvert-Lewin needs to do more for Leeds
The former England international was brought in on a free transfer from Everton in the summer to lead the line for the Whites, and he scored his first goal for the club in the 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
However, the experienced centre-forward has missed a whopping nine ‘big chances’ to find the back of the net in his other five appearances for the club, per Sofascore, either side of that header against Wolves.
This shows that the former Toffees star has been incredibly wasteful in front of goal, costing the Whites points. His missed ‘big chance’ against Spurs is a prime example of him costing the team points, as he blazed a huge opportunity high and wide in a game that they lost 2-1.
Therefore, Leeds need more from their main number nine because he has not been reliable enough in front of goal to suggest that he will score goals on a consistent basis to fire the team to safety.
His wastefulness in front of goal is particularly frustrating when you consider that the Whites once released Rafa Mujica, who now looks like an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin.
Why Leeds United made a mistake with Rafa Mujica
In the summer of 2021, Leeds released the Spanish striker to allow him to join Las Palmas on a free transfer, per Transfermarkt, after two years in West Yorkshire that were largely spent out on loan.
The club did not give him a single minute of first-team football to prove himself, which turned out to be a mistake because his form since leaving the Whites has been exceptional.
After a season in Spain, the striker joined Arouca in the Portuguese top-flight and went on to score 37 goals in 68 matches in all competitions for the club, including 20 goals in 30 Liga Portugal matches in the 2023/24 campaign, per Transfermarkt.
The former Leeds youngster, who was described as “magnificent” by former boss Pepe Mel, then made a move to Qatar-based side Al-Sadd in the summer of 2024, and outperformed Calvert-Lewin at league level.
Appearances
26
18
Goals
3
18
Minutes per goal
543
84
Big chances missed
16
14
Conversion rate
6%
25%
Big chances created
1
3
Assists
1
0
As you can see in the table above, Mujica significantly outperformed the English marksman as a goalscorer in the 2024/25 campaign, albeit whilst playing in a different league.
In the last two full seasons, the Spaniard has scored 38 league goals for Al-Sadd and Arouca combined, which shows that he has been in incredibly prolific form, including in a respectable European league in Portugal.
Meanwhile, Calvert-Lewin scored ten goals and missed a whopping 32 ‘big chances’ in the Premier League for Everton in those two seasons, per Sofascore. This is why it has not been a shock to see him struggle in front of goal as a finisher in the top-flight for Leeds this term.
Unless the English forward can turn things around and become the reliable goalscorer that he has failed to be in the last few years, the Whites may look back and regret releasing Mujica back in 2021.
The Al-Sadd star’s form in recent seasons in Portugal and Qatar suggests that he could have been an exciting centre-forward option for the club if they had given him a chance to prove himself in West Yorkshire, instead of releasing him.
