For the first time in decades Leeds United have owners with deep pockets and a competent board and management team who can match pragmatism with ambition.
And they will need all that nous to navigate this summer’s transfer market.
No one can say who will make the step up to the Premier League within the squad. But there is a core group of players who I imagine would and that includes Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, Jayden Bogle, Ao Tanaka and Dan James.
I would imagine the club are working on a deal to bring Manor Solomon back, as well as considering the merits of a new contract for Junior Firpo. The two linked up on Leeds’ left side to great success last season.
Chairman Paraag Marathe confirmed sales will have to be made to ensure the club’s position against financial fair play rules. This means any sales would have to represent a profit on the balance sheet.
So it would not surprise me should Illan Meslier be sold. The Frenchman fell out of favour towards the end of the season and could attract a price tag that would surpass what Leeds paid for him.
One player fans might expect Leeds to sell is Brenden Aaronson. But I do not see him attracting an offer that would secure a profit, and despite his deficiencies in possession, he has excelled without the ball in disrupting opposition teams’ passing play.
Leeds will be defending far more in the Premier League than in the Championship and will need to adjust their strategy to survive, and that includes recruitment and retention.
United are back where the club and city deserve to be but they must put everything they have into this summer’s transfer window if they want to stay up.
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