Leeds United are due to get their pre-season campaign under way in less than two weeks and there’s still so much for the club to sort. The Whites don’t have a new head coach just yet and that’s the priority before attention is turned to the squad and the work that needs to be done in the transfer window.
If reports are to be believed, United have already seen interest emerge in a host of their high profile players and while some are expected to leave, the club will hoping to keep hold of as many as possible as they look to launch a Championship promotion push. Leeds will also be confident when it comes to adding quality additions to their squad over the next couple of months.
It’s hard to predict what might happen between now and September 1, but here’s what Leeds might consider to be a dream transfer window, including new signings and the retention of key men.
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Additions
Cole Palmer
Club: Manchester City
Position: Attacking midfield
Palmer has been on the peripheries of the Manchester City squad all year and he was most recently seen with a Champions League winners’ medal around his neck. He didn’t play in the Istanbul final, but he did feature earlier in the competition and he can add that to the FA Cup and Premier League medals he collected this season.
This summer is an interesting one for Palmer, though, with regular game time needed for him to continue his impressive development. Pep Guardiola will have a plan for him and the youngster won’t be short of Premier League suitors if he were to be made available for a loan deal.
Whether Leeds would be able to tempt City to send Palmer to the Championship is doubtful, but he would get the minutes he craves and the progress made by the likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tommy Doyle and James McAtee in the second tier last season would certainly work in Leeds’ favour.
Contract situation: Until 2026
Buy or loan : Loan
Viktor Gyokeres
Club: Coventry City
Position: Striker
Leeds were strongly linked with a move for Gyokeres in the January transfer window and it could probably be said that they missed a trick by opting not to go for the Coventry man. The Sweden international scored 21 goals in the Championship last season, firing the Sky Blues to the play-off final and to within touching distance of the Premier League.
If Gyokeres is to move anywhere this summer, it will likely be to a top flight club and he wouldn’t be cheap, either. But, with parachute payments in their pocket, Leeds could be in a position to spend.
They need a striker and the ambitious addition of Gyokeres would almost certainly push them towards promotion back to the Premier League.
Contract situation: Until 2024
Buy or loan: Buy
Matt Targett
Club: Newcastle United
Position : Left-back
Leeds have been linked to the signing of Targett over the last couple of years and given the club’s interim football advisor Nick Hammond signed him during his time at Newcastle United, there is a link there. Persuading Targett to make the drop down to the Championship at this stage of the 27-year-old’s career might be challenging, to say the least.
But, with Leeds in desperate need of a left-back, he’d certainly get game time, which cannot be said if he were to stay at Newcastle United. Targett had his injury troubles last season and he found himself comfortably behind Dan Burn in the pecking order at St James’ Park. That standing isn’t likely to change as the club look to recruit for the Champions League.
He wouldn’t come cheap and a loan deal would probably be Leeds’ best chance of securing his services. But, in this hypothetical situation, there would almost certainly be Premier League interest.
Contract situation: Until 2026
Buy or loan: Loan
Retentions
Wilfried Gnonto
Position: Winger/forward
It goes without saying, but if Leeds can keep hold of their brightest and most promising young talent, they would find themselves in a very strong position going into the Championship. There’s a few who could be included on this list, but Gnonto’s ability and potential could very well prove to be the difference for Leeds in the second tier.
He didn’t enjoy the last couple of months of the Premier League, but if he can be persuaded that a season in the Championship is best for his development, he could be Leeds’ cheat code. Manchester City and Juventus are amongst the clubs linked to his signature, though, and their pulls are strong.
Tyler Adams
Position: Centre midfield
Keeping hold of Tyler Adams for another season would be seen as an enormous coup for the Whites. He was arguably Leeds’ best player last time around in the Premier League and it comes as no surprise to see the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United being linked with interest.
If Leeds can dig their heels in and retain his services, they would quite possibly have the best midfielder in the country outside of the top flight.
Jack Harrison
Position: Winger
Harrison might have gone through a rough patch of form last season but he came good over the final few months to underline his worth and earn himself a new long-term contract. It seems unlikely that Leeds will be able to resist approaches for Harrison this summer and his future seems to lie away from Elland Road.
He could be the man to carry Leeds back to the Premier League, though, if he were to stay.
