Daniel Farke confirms Noah Okafor Leeds United return timeline as transfer message sent
The Swiss winger is yet to feature for Leeds United in pre-season after being given an extended summer break.
Leeds United winger Noah Okafor will report back for training this week after being given an extended summer break.
Okafor was a notable absence from the Leeds squad that flew to the USA for their pre-season tour last month. The 26-year-old was given an extended period of rest after being part of a Switzerland squad that reached the World Cup quarter-finals, albeit he barely featured.
Leeds completed their tour with a thrilling 4-2 comeback win over Liverpool on Sunday night as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brenden Aaronson both got important first minutes of the summer. New signings Harry Wilson and Tarik Muharemovic also continued to settle into their new surroundings.
Farke and his squad will now head back to the UK as their pre-season preparations intensify with a 120-minute match against RB Leipzig this weekend. And upon returning to Thorp Arch, they will reunite with Okafor.
Asked what the main objectives are for the rest of pre-season, Farke told LUTV: “To keep going. We are far away from not staying humble, from being over the moon or too big time.
“We know there's lots of work to do in building our fitness levels and our flexibility that we want in building our squad. Also to get some key players back. Noah Okafor will join us from next week [now this week], back in training.”
Okafor is one of three first-team squad members yet to feature in pre-season. Midfielder Ilia Gruev is still recovering from a knee injury while centre-back Jaka Bijol is hoping to return to team training soon as he rehabs a minor knock.
Daniel Farke’s Leeds United transfer message
Leeds are also continuing to work on new additions, including James Trafford who is close to completing a club-record £40million move to Elland Road. The Whites are also exploring attacking options that could compete with Okafor for minutes next season.
“Also, we're still in the market for some signings,” Farke added. “Obviously, it's not done. The work is not done, and all the others who are on a good path have to make sure we go to the next yards.
“If we stop right now and think ‘okay, everything is already prepared’, it won't be good enough. We have to keep going. Enjoy the moment that we're in a good shape, and also such a result gives confidence and belief.
“But we know it's just half of pre-season done, and we still have an important second half to go, then the real stuff starts. And especially once the real stuff starts, then we have to be on it.”