Leeds United transfer news: The huge summer budget revealed, two England strikers being eyed up and the three goalkeeper targets
Proper news from Britain - News from Britain you won’t find anywhere else. Not the tosh the big media force-feed you every day!
- Chairman Paraag Marathe has vowed to spend 'every last penny' on Leeds' transfer window - this is who they're going after this summer
- Subscribe to Mail+ for more exclusive scoops, in-depth reporting and analysis from inside the Leeds United camp
Leeds are back in the big time and desperate to break the promotion curse of the last two seasons, where every Championship side that goes up must come down.
After a spring wobble, promotion was secured with relative ease and Leeds will return to the Premier League after two seasons away primed to take advantage of their American investment.
But the task remains a huge one. The worst team that stayed up last season were the Europa League winners, as the gap between the riches of the Premier League and the EFL grows by the year.
That won't dent Leeds' determination, however, and there are plans afoot already to get the squad into shape.
Here, our Leeds expert AADAM PATEL answers all the key questions ahead of a huge summer at Elland Road.
What do Leeds need this summer?
Put simply, Leeds could do with strengthening their squad in every position this summer if they are to have the best possible chance of staying in the Premier League.
Little surprise then that chairman Paraag Marathe has already described it as their most important summer ‘for decades’ with Leeds vowing to spend ‘every last penny’ on staying up.
In terms of priorities, a new goalkeeper is top of the list with neither Illan Meslier nor Karl Darlow considered as Premier League starters while another centre forward is also wanted.
Dutch frontman Joel Piroe won the Championship Golden Boot with 19 goals last season but Leeds are still looking to invest in a top-class striker, with pace seen as a key attribute.
More than anything, they need Premier League quality with only a handful of the current squad deemed as top-flight starters and enough strength in depth to keep them going through the season.
How big is their budget and is PSR a major concern?
The owners, 49ers Enterprises, have issued £120million worth of new shares to existing investors to help fund their spending plans and Leeds are expected to spend at least this much, with a budget of approximately £150m for the transfer window.
‘We are going to attack the transfer market and it’s something I’m really excited about,’ Marathe insisted.
As they have spent two of the past three seasons in the Championship, Leeds will be permitted losses of £61m in their accounts for next season under the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
A number of outgoings are expected to create more room to spend and it would not be a surprise to see some of the bigger names offloaded just like Archie Gray was last summer in order to comply with PSR.
Come the middle of August when the Premier League starts, the squad will look very different to the group that won the Championship with 100 points.
Who are they interested in?
In between the sticks, both Wolves' Sam Johnstone and Liverpool's Caoimhin Kelleher are options that have been discussed though Kelleher is in demand from a number of Premier League clubs, with Brentford already making an approach for the Irishman.
Southampton’s England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who has just suffered the fourth relegation of his career, is also on the list.
With Junior Firpo’s contract set to expire next month and the left back linked with a move away, Leeds are interested in Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas - though the Greek international, 29, would be expected to take a pay cut. Leeds are in talks with Firpo over a new deal but the Dominican is heavily linked with a move to Real Betis, while Lazio are also interested.
They also want to strengthen in midfield. A potential return for Kalvin Phillips has been discussed and Julian Weigl, of Borussia Monchengladbach, is a major interest. Daniel Farke has previously worked with 29-year-old Weigl and is a known admirer of the former Benfica and Borussia Dortmund player, who would bring five seasons' worth of Champions League experience.
Manor Solomon has returned to Tottenham following his loan and though Leeds are keen on pushing for a permanent move, any decision will likely have to wait on the future of Ange Postecoglou in north London.
With Sheffield United failing to go up, the Championship player of the season Gustavo Hamer is available again and it is no secret that Leeds admire him, having had a £13m bid rejected last year.
Everton also missed out last summer and are understood to be interested, with the Blades resigned to losing the 27-year-old Dutch playmaker. Hamer has the same agent as Jayden Bogle, who made the move from Sheffield United to Leeds last summer.
Callum Wilson is also available on a free, with the Newcastle United striker out of contract next month but like Hamer, Leeds may face competition from Everton with David Moyes also keen on the former England international. Jamie Vardy, who is leaving Leicester, and out-of-favour Brighton frontman Evan Ferguson have also been considered.
Which young players could break out next season to fill gaps in the first-team squad?
He’s unlikely to play a major part but 16-year-old Harry Gray is someone Farke rates highly, as proved by being given his debut towards the end of last season in the 6-0 win over Stoke City. Gray has represented England at three youth levels though is also eligible for Scotland.
James Debayo is also an England youth international and the 19-year-old defender who made his debut last November is also considered to be one of the rising talents at Thorp Arch.
Then there's 17-year-old Alfie Cresswell, son of Richard and brother of Charlie, both of whom played for Leeds, who is another one to keep an eye on.
Which players are set to leave?
In terms of departures, both Joe Rothwell and Manor Solomon have gone back to their parent clubs while Jack Harrison returns to Leeds, following two seasons on loan at Everton.
Joshua Guilavogui, a key figure both on and off the pitch during their promotion campaign, will also leave Leeds after the club opted not to offer him a new deal.
Meslier is expected to depart this summer if a reasonable offer comes in for the French keeper, who has endured a tricky end to his five-and-a-half years at Leeds.
Patrick Bamford, Joe Gelhardt and Mateo Joseph are also likely to move on. Ten outgoings already announced include Harry Christy, Cian Coleman, Connor Ferguson, Max McFadden, Amari Miller, Kris Moore, Joe Richards, Luca Thomas, Dan Toulson and Joe Snowdon. Leeds remain in discussions with Sam Byram, whose contract is due to expire on June 30.
