Michael Bridges believes one Leeds United star will be looking to prove a point in the Premier League next season.
Leeds United secured promotion back to the Premier League with two games to spare on Easter Monday and the celebrations have hardly stopped since.
Daniel Farke’s side showed no sign of being satisfied as they blew a hapless Bristol City side away 4-0 on Monday, with Ao Tanaka, Will Gnonto and Largie Ramazani grabbing the goals.
It means the Championship title race with Burnley goes to the final day of the season, with Leeds knowing a victory against Plymouth will mean they’ll have the trophy for Monday’s open-top bus parade.
There will certainly be more parties to come for everyone associated with Leeds but, before too long, attention will have to turn to the fight for survival in the Premier League.
The Leeds squad will need some serious investment in the summer if they want to stay up, with the plans to expand Elland Road making it a necessity.
Farke has already demanded ‘ambition’ from the 49ers but one position he won’t be looking to strengthen is right-back after Jayden Bogle’s ‘outstanding season.
Former Leeds striker Michael Bridges believes Bogle will be eager to show he is good enough at Premier League level after struggling last time.
Jayden Bogle will be eager to get ‘revenge’ on Premier League
Bogle was an integral member of the Sheffield United squad that performed so poorly in the Premier League in the 2023-24 season.
The Blades were dreadful as they finished bottom with a mere 16 points, eight away from 19th and 17 from safety.
Though Bogle did score three goals, he played all but four games as part of the worst defence in Premier League history that conceded a record 104 goals.
Bridges said when asked about Bogle on Sky Sports: “To have another go and a point to prove? Definitely.
“He started his first few matches here a little vulnerable, he was getting used to the atmosphere, getting used to the surroundings but once he found his feet in Daniel Farke’s set up, the goals that he’s scored, the assists that we see.
“What’s impressed me more this season about both full-backs, especially Bogle, is the amount of touches they’ve had as a defender in the position box.
“That for me is catalyst by how Farke sets this team up and Bogle’s is one of the men who wants to go and emulate that in the Premier League and get his revenge on not being there last time.”
Jayden Bogle should keep his place in the Premier League
Fakre has already made it clear some tough decisions will have to be made regarding his squad if Leeds are to stay up next season.
Last year’s three promoted teams – Leicester City, Southampton and Ipswich Town – have all come straight back down despite spending big money, showing the size of the task at hand.
There will be several players whose spot in the starting XI will be at risk, with Leeds especially needing to strengthen with a new goalkeeper, striker, playmaker and centre-midfielder at the very least.
| Games | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Red cards |
| 44 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 0 |
One position that needs little attention, though, is right-back after Bogle’s sensational season. His six goals, four assists and, most importantly, relentless pressing on the flank have been integral to Farke’s system, even if that will have to change a bit in the top flight.
It will be interesting to see how Bogle adapts if he is forced to be a bit more restrained in his movement but he has earned the chance to prove he can.
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