Leeds United will be looking to get this summer’s transfer window off to a faster start than the one 12 months ago.
Following relegation from the Premier League, Leeds did not make their first signing until the final two weeks of July, when Ethan Ampadu joined from Chelsea.
49ers Enterprises were still in the process of completing a full buyout of Andrea Radrizzani, before then having to find a replacement for manager Sam Allardyce.
Having missed out on promotion, Leeds will be feeling equally as disappointed right now as they did after relegation last year, but plans are already being put together for another promotion push.
Leeds know that some key players will have to depart in order to comply with the EFL’s PSR rules, but Paraag Marathe has confirmed funds will be available to spend for Daniel Farke.
The starting XI could look a whole lot different to the one which began the play-off final on Sunday, and here is what it could look like in an ideal scenario.
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Goalkeeper
After another shaky end to the season, Illan Meslier is someone Leeds should be looking to move on this summer. Having been signed for £5 million three years ago, and given he is only 24, Meslier is a player where profit can be made.
Leeds were reportedly looking at Rotherham United’s Viktor Johansson but after his move to Stoke City, they will have to search elsewhere for a new number one.
As of yet, there have been no fresh links but after a fantastic season on loan at Swansea City, Carl Rushworth on loan from Brighton could be a good one to look at. Only three shotstoppers prevented more goals than him in the 2023/24 Championship campaign, as per FotMob.
Defence
With Connor Roberts having returned to Burnley and Sam Byram out of contract, right-back is a position Leeds are in need of reinforcements this summer.
Ben Johnson was a player Leeds were looking at in January and is set to be available on a free transfer this summer, after rejecting multiple new contract offers from West Ham. He’s a no brainer.
On the other flank, another potential free agent could come in and do the trick for Leeds with Charlie Taylor, as it stands, leaving Burnley. With eight assists, Junior Firpo had a good second half of the season, but it is hard to see him staying another year in the Championship, particularly with just 12 months left on his deal.
At centre-back, Pascal Struijk needs to come straight back in once he recovers from the injury that has kept him out since Boxing Day. It would be unbelievable if he can be paired with Joe Rodon, with Leeds still keen to sign him permanently despite missing out on promotion.
Midfield
With Struijk back fit again, Ampadu simply has to return to the middle of the park and be handed the captain’s armband on a permanent basis.
Though Ampadu filled in well at the back, his best position is midfield and getting him back in there will be huge.
Archie Gray is attracting plenty of interest from some of Europe’s elite but given his ties to the club, hopefully Leeds can retain his services and pair him with Ampadu.
Attack
The front four could well be the area of the pitch that sees the most changes, with Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto two of the most likely to leave.
Georginio Rutter has also been touted for an exit, but given Leeds paid a club-record fee for him, unless someone can match that, there is little point in letting him leave.
Farke had actually been planning to use Rutter in a wide role last season, but due to the club’s failure to sign a proper number 10, it was the 22-year-old who played centrally.
Leeds cannot afford a repeat of that mistake again this summer, and Callum O’Hare is someone who they should be looking at to fill that role, as he prepares to leave Coventry City on a free.
That would allow Rutter to play on the right, eliminating him of some of the responsibilities playing down the middle brings.
Amid interest from Liverpool in Summerville, Leeds should look to use that to their advantage by looking to get Fabio Carvalho in some sort of swap deal. Mateo Joseph then deserves the chance to lead the line.
Dan James and Joel Piroe should be kept as high quality depth players who can either come off the bench to make an impact, or even sometimes from the start.
Dream Leeds XI in August: Rushworth; Johnson, Rodon, Struijk, Taylor; Ampadu, Gray; Rutter, O’Hare, Carvalho; Joseph
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