Promotion or not, there’s bound to be changes to the Leeds United squad this summer. But missing out on promotion may mean more drastic changes.
As always is the case, teams who miss out on promotion from the Championship often go on to lose their key players. And in the case of Leeds United there’s a lot of players who could cut it in the Premier League or other top leagues in Europe.
Daniel Farke’s side have slipped up in the race for promotion of late with Sheffield United closing what was not so long ago a five point lead at the top for Leeds.
Amid fears of missing out on promotion for a second season in a row, GIVEMESPORT report on Leeds: “Should Leeds fail to get promotion then the likelihood is several other top players would move on once again.”
With that in mind, here are five players bound to leave Elland Road should Leeds not earn promotion this season…
Illan Meslier
Illan Meslier has had a rather disastrous season between the sticks, with his unforgettable howler against Sunderland earlier in the campaign a real focal point for him.
He’s cost the club too many points this season and Meslier looks like one who the club will either replace and/or replace this summer. Meslier himself has lofty ambitions, wanting to be Leeds’ no.1 in the Premier League, and so he may even push to leave if Leeds miss out.
Pascal Struijk
Pascal Struijk has come to the rescue for Leeds on several occasions this season having scored some vital goals, most recently doing so in the 2-1 comeback win against Sunderland.
And he’s not been without interest either. It’s been reported previously that Spurs are interested in Struijk who’s also thought to have interest from Wolves.
Wilfried Gnonto
Perhaps the most likely player to leave Leeds United this summer is Wilfried Gnonto. The 21-year-old has played 35 times in the Championship this season, scoring five and assisting five, impressing off the bench against QPR whilst Brenden Aaronson struggled
Reports in January revealed that Leeds United value Gnonto at £50million with the Italian having had previous interest from Saudi Arabia, though there’d surely be teams in Europe ready to take a punt.
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Manor Solomon
Manor Solomon has been a revelation for Leeds United this season and there’s an argument that he’s been Leeds’ best signing of the season with seven goals and seven assists in his 31 Championship appearances so far for Leeds.
Leeds United want to sign Solomon in a permanent deal from Spurs but there’s others keen on 25-year-old too, with Everton and Southampton linked with Solomon ahead of the summer
Joel Piroe
The curious case of Joel Piroe has gotten a lot more mysterious this week after Piroe said he was open to returning to PSV at some point in the future. But the Dutchman then responded to the subsequent rumours that he wanted out, explaining: “I just think, that’s not what I actually said (returning to PSV) you let it slide and just carry on. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what other people think.”
Whilst Piroe might even be happy to stay at Elland Road should Leeds miss out on promotion, there might be clubs in some of Europe’s top leagues ready to sign him should Leeds remain a Championship club. There could even be Premier League interest.
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