Leeds United have not used the lower league market too much in recent years.
Leeds have not made a single signing from either League One or Two since the summer of 2020 when Joe Gelhardt arrived from Wigan Athletic. Even then, that was a signing for the U21s and from a side they had been in the same league as just a matter of weeks earlier.
Alongside both free agents and loans, League One is certainly an area Leeds should be targeting this summer once the window officially opens next Friday.
It promises to be a busy couple of months at Elland Road after failing to win promotion last month, with Paraag Marathe insisting funds will be available to spend to replace some of the key players he has also acknowledged will have to leave.
However, with the need to comply with the EFL’s PSR constraints always tightened in the second year after relegation due to a reduction in parachute payments, Leeds will need to be smart.
So, with that in mind, we have compiled a list of three players Leeds should target from the division below.
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Harrison Burrows – Peterborough United
Both full-back positions promised to be an area of the field Leeds will need to look at this summer, and there won’t be many better on the left than Peterborough United’s Harrison Burrows.
Junior Firpo and Sam Byram are Leeds’ only current first-team full-backs, but with just 12 months remaining on the former’s deal and a contract unlikely to be offered, his future is uncertain.
Firpo established himself as a key player in the second half of the season with eight assists, and Burrows could be the man to replace those excellent numbers.
With 14, he registered the second most number of assists in League One last season, while also managing to score six goals. He also created the most big chances (20) in the division.
As per Sofa Score, Burrows averaged 101 touches and 2.6 key passes per match across his 45 league appearances, showing how good he is on the ball. That will be crucial in a side like Leeds, who themselves averaged the third most amount of possession in the Championship.
There are always question marks over whether these type of players can make the step up, but his numbers are similar to that of Leif Davis the season prior, and he took to the Championship like a duck to water.
Burrows is also an excellent set-piece taker, which was a massive issue at Leeds last season. They didn’t score a single corner after the win over Ipswich on December 23. He is also just 22, and has plenty of room for growth.
Ronnie Edwards – Peterborough United
Sticking with Peterborough and one of Burrows’ defensive teammates is centre-back Ronnie Edwards, who is a very highly rated young player.
Edwards is the subject of interest from Premier League sides this summer but a move to a top Championship side first would be the more logical step in his development.
Centre-back is an area that will need addressing this summer, with it still unclear whether Joe Rodon will return. Liam Cooper is also out of contract, while Charlie Cresswell won’t settle for such limited game time again next term.
Daniel Farke will also be eager to avoid a repeat of the situation that occurred in the second half of last season. Pascal Struijk missed the entire campaign from Boxing Day onwards, forcing Ethan Ampadu to drop into the back four, who was a huge miss in midfield.
At just 21, Edwards is regarded as a top, young ball-playing centre-back. He averaged the most accurate passes and long-balls in League One last season, showing how comfortable he is in possession.
Peterborough aren’t ever a side happy to let their players go on the cheap, but he is certainly worth a look.
Karamoko Dembele – Blackpool (Brest)
Technically, Karamoko Dembele is not currently a League One player, but it is where he spent last season on loan with Blackpool.
Leeds are actually one of the sides reportedly interested in signing him this summer, with his future at Brest uncertain following the end of his loan.
The 21-year-old is a left-footed right-winger, which is a profile of player Leeds currently lack. Amid doubts over the futures of Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto, as well as the end of Jaidon Anthony’s loan, Leeds will need to strengthen out wide.
Dembele enjoyed comfortably the best season of his professional career at Blackpool last term, as he netted eight goals and provided 13 assists in the league alone.
Once dubbed the next Lionel Messi, Dembele is the sort of player who would get fans off their seats with his dribbling, and could be a very interesting option.
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