Whether Leeds are expecting to make a signing before Saturday as Jonathan Rowe talks continue with Norwich

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Leeds United begin their 2024/25 campaign against Portsmouth on Saturday.

Despite losing both Crysencio Summerville and Archie Gray since the Championship play-off final defeat to Southampton back in May, confidence should be high at Elland Road heading into the new season.

Leeds won all four of their pre-season friendlies, the most impressive of which came last weekend when they defeated La Liga side Valencia 2-1.

New signings Joe Rodon, Joe Rothwell and Jayden Bogle all seem to have settled in well, while the return of both Brenden Aaronson and Max Wober add to the quality in the squad.

However, there is still work to do for Leeds in the market with Daniel Farke keen on strengthening three more positions – full-back, central midfield and winger.

• READ MORE: Leeds United face defeat in race for Premier League defender as club hope to wrap up loan deal this week

Whether Leeds are expecting a new signing before Portsmouth

Leeds’ failure to gain promotion in 2023/24 can be attributed to their extremely slow start to the season, which saw them win just two of their opening seven matches.

Ethan Ampadu was the only new face in the starting line-up against Cardiff City, with the bulk of Leeds’ transfer activity coming in the final two weeks of the window.

Farke also had to deal with the transfer sagas involving both Luis Sinisterra and Gnonto, meaning it would be fair to say the squad is in a much more settled position.

However, that does not mean more new faces are not needed in the coming weeks, though according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, it is unlikely that will arrive before Saturday.

The report states Leeds are not expecting anything significant to happen in the next 72 hours, though talks are ‘ongoing’ with Norwich City over Jonathan Rowe.

Rowe has been made Leeds’ number one target to replace Crysencio Summerville but clearly there is plenty of work to do to get this over the line.

• READ MORE: What Norwich City journalist is now saying about Jonathan Rowe to Leeds United transfer links

How could Leeds line-up vs Portsmouth with no new signings?

Even without any new faces coming through the door before Saturday, Leeds can still field an extremely strong starting line-up.

A back five of Illan Meslier, Bogle, Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Junior Firpo looks one of, if not the best defensive unit in the division.

Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev look as though they will head into the season as Leeds’ first choice midfield, though that could change if a new attack-minded number eight is found.

As discussions continue over Rowe, Farke is likely to go with the same front four that started against Valencia – Wilfried Gnonto, Georginio Rutter, Dan James and Mateo Joseph.