If Leeds United can land three more signings in the next seven days, the whole feeling around the club will completely change from the doom and gloom of the last few weeks.
Heading into the opening day against Portsmouth, confidence at Leeds was high after four wins from four in pre-season, and a starting XI that still consisted of Georginio Rutter.
However, a lot can happen in seven days in football and that disappointing draw against Pompey kicked off a miserable week which saw Leeds battered by Middlesbrough, toothless at West Brom and Rutter leave.
It is incredible how much a new signing can change the mood, though, and Largie Ramazani’s arrival from UD Almeria on Thursday looks set to be the start of a busy end to the window.
Daniel Farke is still keen to add three new players to his squad and so based on some of the links this week, here is our attempt at a new dream XI and bench.
Goalkeeper
It would’ve been nice to sign an upgrade between the sticks this summer but that isn’t happening and so Illan Meslier is the number one for the season ahead.
Defence
Full-back is one of the positions Leeds are still looking to strengthen but anyone who comes in is likely to have to play second fiddle, at least at first.
Max Aarons is the latest name linked with Leeds and he would be a terrific signing, but Jayden Bogle and Junior Firpo are the first choice pairing at this stage.
Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon are both currently preferred ahead of Max Wober and after the Austrian’s dreadful display against Middlesbrough, hopefully it stays that way.
Midfield
Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev have started both league matches in midfield together so far this season, and it would be fair to say it is a partnership that doesn’t really work.
Gruev has been the man tasked with playing more box-to-box but the evidence from his run in the team during the second half of the 2023/24 campaign shows he is far better in the holding role.
However, Ampadu is captain of the club and arguably the most important player, and so whoever comes in, is likely to be bought to come in and partner him.
Of the names, linked Manchester United’s Hannibal Mejbri is the most exciting and so hopefully that is one which gets done.
Attack
As soon as he is ready to play, Ramazani immediately walks into Leeds’ starting XI as he looks to fill the void left by the departed Crysencio Summerville.
Leeds remain in the market for Rutter’s replacement and it would appear they have a long list of options including Roland Sallai, Manuel Benson, Ilan Kebbal and Manor Solomon.
Sallai would be an incredible piece of business at this level based on his pedigree both at club and international level, and so is undoubtedly the most attractive option.
Both Ramazani and Sallai would line up in a dream front four alongside Wilfried Gnonto and Mateo Joseph.
Dream XI: Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Ampadu, Hannibal; Sallai, Ramazani, Gnonto, Joseph
Bench: Darlow, Aarons, Wober, Byram, Gruev, Rothwell, James, Aaronson, Piroe
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