So, with Premier League football coming back to Elland Road, Leeds United once again will find themselves hosting the elite of English football in the 2025/26 campaign.
But the prospect of a fierce battle with bitter rivals Manchester United, dreams of a stunning Elland Road triumph over Man City, Arsenal or Liverpool, is not the thing Larry Nance Jr is looking forward to the most.
A part owner of Leeds United and a member of the 49ers Enterprises, the Atlanta Hawks basketball star has watched on in awe as Daniel Farke engraved his name into the Leeds United history books by accumulating a staggering 93 points en route to promotion.
Record-breaking Leeds secured their Premier League return with a 6-0 battering of Stoke City on Easter Monday. And if anything sums up Farke’s thrilling, free-wheeling approach – Leeds’ tally of 89 goals is also their best-ever return – it was the sight of Jayden Bogle crossing for Junior Firpo to convert as Stoke found themselves four-down inside half an hour.
Larry Nance Jr excited to see Leeds United duo Junior Firpo and Dan James next season
One rampaging full-back setting up the other. Between them, meanwhile, Bogle and Firpo have provided 23 goals and assists as EFL experts are left baffled by the success of Farke’s unique set-up.
Operating more as wide forwards than full-backs – Junior Firpo sometimes pops up almost in a striking role these days too – Nance Jr is intrigued to see whether Farke’s promotion heroes can translate their dominant Championship displays onto a bigger stage.
It speaks volumes about the depth and the variety in Leeds’ squad, meanwhile, that the six-goal obliteration of Stoke came without Dan James.
James missed that Potters clash with a hamstring injury. With 12 league goals and nine assists, the rapid Welshman is another playing the best and most consistent football of his career in West Yorkshire. Delivering Premier League-level performances while making the Championship look like child’s play.
“Of course, I am dying to be over there for the first match back in the Premier League,” Nance Jr smiles, his description of the despised Red Devils destined to endear himself to the feverish Leeds support.
“I will find my way over there. The biggest thing I am looking forward to is seeing how we stack up. It’s gonna be fantastic. The atmosphere when ‘scum’ come and play at Elland Road, that is going to be electric!
“But I am not looking forward to that [the most]. I want to see Dan James back in the Premier League. I want to see Junior Firpo doing his ‘[number] nine’ role from left-back in the Premier League.
“I can’t wait to see it. It is going to be where the majority of these fellas belong, honestly.”
Firpo contract expiring but talks with Leeds now expected
Can Nance Jr’s comments on Junior Firpo, in particular, be read as a hint into what the immediate future may hold for the former Barcelona left-back?
Amid reports claiming Real Betis want to bring Firpo back to Spain, the Dominican Republic international is due to become a free-agent at the end of June.
Sam Byram and Joshua Guilavogui are also due to depart, while decisions must be made with loanees Manor Solomon and Joe Rothwell too.
Farke indicated a few months ago, meanwhile, that Leeds had put talks with Junior Firpo on the backburner until their fate was sealed. Now that it has, expect movement in the coming weeks.
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