Leeds United and 49ers Enterprises are going to need to show ambition in the market this summer if they are to survive relegation from the Premier League back to the Championship.
Daniel Farke’s side won the title and celebrated it in style this week during an open-top bus parade that Ethan Ampadu particularly enjoyed, but their attentions can soon turn to building the best possible squad in the transfer window. 100 points in the Championship does not equate to Premier League success.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LeedsLeeds | 46 | 29 | 13 | 4 | 95 | 30 | 65 | 100 |
| 2 |  BurnleyBurnley | 46 | 28 | 16 | 2 | 69 | 16 | 53 | 100 |
| 3 |  Sheff UtdSheffield Utd | 46 | 28 | 8 | 10 | 63 | 36 | 27 | 90 |
| 4 |  SunderlandSunderland | 46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 58 | 44 | 14 | 76 |
| 5 |  CoventryCoventry | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 64 | 58 | 6 | 69 |
| 6 |  Bristol CityBristol City | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 59 | 55 | 4 | 68 |
Paraag Marathe will make funds available but Leeds have PSR concerns to overcome as well. The 49ers can and will invest heavily where they can, with our football finance expert Adam Williams explaining the latest amid concerns about how much promoted clubs have had to spend.
Ambition has to be paired with realism, though. That is one aspect Leeds have got wrong in previous Premier League campaigns — which meant relegation back to the second tier. Leeds need to be careful to walk before they can run.
Football fans unite in humouring Paraag Marathe’s Leeds claim
Marathe’s ambitious claim has been criticised by football fans, with many of those outside of Leeds ridiculing his latest statement regarding the club’s future and trajectory. The summer window opens soon and Marathe and co. will simply have to put their money where their mouth is.
Adam Pope believes Leeds will need to make six major signings and spend north of £100 million to compete but other fans don’t fancy Leeds’ chances at all. One said: “Championship 26/27 then?”
Another added: “Slow down silly sausage.”
Another shared a similar sentiment, stating: “I remember Peter Ridsdale saying this once….”
A theme was forming, a further reply stated: “Hmmmmm. Overly ambitious Leeds owners making promises he can’t keep.”
The Peter Ridsdale comparison and ‘doing a Leeds’ is what the club will be desperate to avoid.
Leeds United will be aiming to emulate Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa’s success
It’s an exciting time to be a Leeds fan, with Elland Road expansion plans in place, and a return to a league they feel they belong in for next season.
That, combined with an ownership group who appear to be more put together on the operations side, is a recipe for success if they can stave off relegation to the Championship in the coming season.
Marathe’s European talk may be a bit punchy at the moment, but Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are broadly similar sized clubs and they kicked on after establishing themselves in the top flight. Their growth has to be the blueprint for many teams after promotion if they can sustain the spending levels both did.
You imagine Leeds could with a stadium over 50,000 in capacity and with their revenue and sponsorship only likely to increase back in the Premier League. The potential for a one-club city of Leeds’ size is huge.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
