Leeds United's German head coach Daniel Farke looks on ahead of kick-off in the English League Cup second round football match between Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United at The Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, northern England on August 26, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Toxic environment’ – Leeds promotion hero left regretting summer transfer
Leeds United had several heroes in their promotion-winning squad last season, and Joe Rothwell was one of those unassuming stars of that team. He played a big role in earning them the Premier League ticket, but didn’t get the chance to enjoy the fruits of his labour.
Rothwell joined Leeds on loan last year, and he was not seen as one of the players who could end up being a big player in their ambition of earning promotion back to the Premier League. However, he defied expectations at Elland Road.
The midfielder was brilliant in the middle of the park, and his set-piece delivery made a difference in some big games towards the end of the Championship season. However, he left Elland Road at the end of his loan stint.
He would have agreed to sign on a permanent deal had Leeds chased a deal with Bournemouth. However, the Whites looked for upgrades, and Rothwell agreed to move north of the border to join Rangers.
Former Leeds star regrets summer transfer
New Rangers boss Russell Martin pushed the club to sign Rothwell, with the 49ers only impressed by his performances for Leeds last season.
However, the Glasgow giants have made a terrible start to the new season, and Martin and his new signings are in the fans’ line of fire for the poor performances.
Rothwell has been mercilessly targeted by Rangers fans for criticism, and Chris Sutton admitted that the midfielder has been visibly shaken by the treatment he has received at Ibrox this season.
The former Premier League striker stressed that Rangers have become a difficult club to play for because of the toxic environment at Ibrox, with the former Leeds star becoming its latest victim.
“Joe Rothwell, a really decent playing career at Leeds and Blackburn”, Sutton said on the BBC’s Monday Night Club.
“He’s really been affected by expectation, moans and groans. It’s a difficult place to play; the environment is toxic.”
Rothwell must be missing the stable environment he found at Leeds last season
Despite losing the playoff final last year and the chance of the situation turning toxic, Daniel Farke managed to maintain a sense of harmony inside the squad and the club last season.
He maintained consistency in the environment, which allowed players to thrive and eventually earn promotion by winning the Championship with 100 points in their bag.
Players such as Rothwell knew their role in the squad, and Leeds cruised along in the second tier despite a couple of difficult moments in the season.
It is far away from the toxicity that the midfielder has discovered at Rangers, who are desperate to get out of Celtic’s shadow, but do not have the finances to compete with their stronger local rivals.
Waste of Money: Leeds Must Sell £112,000-a-Week Dud, He’s Not Good Enough
Leeds United had to settle for a point in their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at Elland Road after conceding late once again in a dramatic Premier League encounter on Saturday afternoon.
Daniel Farke’s side were denied their third win of the season as the Cherries struck a 93rd-minute leveller, with Eli Kroupi beating Karl Darlow from close range following a free-kick.
Bournemouth took the lead in the 26th minute through Antoine Semenyo’s free-kick, but Leeds fought back with a powerful Joe Rodon header to ensure the scores were level at half-time.
The Whites took the lead early in the second half when Sean Longstaff scored a stunning half-volley and defended resiliently until Bournemouth finally levelled late on through Kroupi.
While the likes of Longstaff and Noah Okafor impressed again, the 2-2 draw will surely come as a disappointment for Daniel Farke, who saw his side collapse once more at the very end of the match.
Leeds endured a similar heartbreak in their 1-0 loss at Fulham earlier this month, conceding in the 94th minute when Gabriel Gudmundsson put the ball into his own net.
Jack Harrison Fails to Impress v Bournemouth
Jack Harrison
With summer signing Okafor once again proving a constant threat to the opposition’s defence on Saturday, Farke’s decision to reintegrate Jack Harrison into the first-team squad following his return from a loan spell at Everton raises a few eyebrows.
The Stoke-on-Trent-born winger has struggled to break into the starting XI this season, with all five of his league appearances coming off the bench, and failed to make any meaningful impact against Bournemouth after replacing Okafor in the second half.
While Harrison’s ambitious long-range effort forced a good save from Djordje Petrovic, the 28-year-old was unable to match the intensity and attacking threat Okafor offered and again left the field without a goal contribution.
Since the start of the 2024/25 campaign, Harrison has registered just one goal and one assist in 39 league appearances, with his last Premier League goal coming in March.
A disappointing run of form, combined with the likes of Okafor, Daniel James, Wilfried Gnonto and Brenden Aaronson all competing for minutes on the wings, could leave Leeds with little choice but to consider offloading Harrison in the near future.
Given the 28-year-old’s sizeable contract, reportedly worth £112,000 per week, selling him could be a wise move, with the money potentially better used to bolster other areas of the squad.
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