With the summer transfer window in full swing, many eyes are on which players come through the door at Elland Road as part of the club’s post-relegation rebuild.
The squad that starts the season in just a few weeks' time will look very different to the one that ended their Premier League campaign in May, with a number of senior outgoings expected to make way for new faces.
But new boss Daniel Farke may not have to look too far to find future Championship match-winners. That’s why, as part of our new Next Gen series, we’re taking a closer look at the names that are hoping to break into the Leeds United first team in the coming years, with this season likely to see a few stake their claim.
Which young Whites star excites you the most? Scroll down to our Next Gen widget at the bottom of this page to have your say.
Archie Gray
He’s still only 17, but Gray is looking to make his first-team debut and establish himself within the club’s senior ranks this season. He was around the first-team picture last time around and won bench spots under Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce, but his only game time came at U21 level, where he made a real impact.
The midfielder played a key role as the Whites won promotion from Premier League 2 Division 2 through the play-offs, returning from injury late to help Paco Gallardo’s side over the line.
Sonny Perkins
Perkins made an instant impact at Elland Road following his switch from West Ham United last summer. The striker found the back of the net eight times in his first seven U21s games in white and that set the tone for a fine debut season in West Yorkshire.
He went on to bag 14 goals for the Whites and that included one for the first team as he scored the equaliser against Cardiff City in the third round of the FA Cup. He’ll have his eyes on more senior minutes this season, while a loan move has also been mooted for him.
Mateo Joseph
Joseph was one of the players of the season in the Premier League 2 last season, with just one player scoring more than the 16 league goals he bagged. The Spanish-born England U20 forward skippered the U21s for much of the campaign and he also managed to make three appearances in the Premier League, stepping off the bench in games against Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea.
Joseph is expected to be on the fringes of the Whites’ first-team plans this season and he’ll be looking to kick on and challenge the likes of Patrick Bamford, Joe Gelhardt and Georginio Rutter for a spot.
Darko Gyabi
Leeds paid a reported fee of around £5m to sign Gyabi from Manchester City last summer and it’s not hard to see why. His presence and ability on the ball were unrivalled at U21 level last season and he’s another who was given the nod at first-team level, too
Gyabi, who is also an England U20 international, made his Premier League debut against his former club in December, while also getting lengthy run-outs in both cups. He needs senior minutes now and with Leeds being short of midfield options, a strong pre-season will surely see him enter the new head coach’s thoughts.
Diogo Monteiro
Monteiro only arrived at Leeds in January, but he’s highly thought of and Leeds will be following his progress closely over the next 12 months or so.
The 18-year-old picked up first-team experience with Servette in the Swiss league and there is hope that it won’t be too long before he’s ready to make the step up at Elland Road. The centre-back made nine appearances for the U21s last season, helping them win promotion back to the top flight.
