Leeds United are edging closer to securing another Premier League campaign and will already be looking towards summer reinforcements. Daniel Farke's side faced the prospect of being dragged into the battle with Tottenham, West Ham and Nottingham Forest before a five-match unbeaten streak lifted them to 40 points and virtual safety.
Preparations Underway
Preparations for next season will have already begun and despite such an impressive run, there are matters to address. Farke is likely to seek reinforcements across the board. The club parted with £100million on new arrivals last summer and a comparable sum could be spent in the upcoming window, though don't anticipate £40-50m being lavished on a single player. Here's how the Leeds squad could look next season...
Goalkeepers
The goalkeeping position remains uncertain, with regular league first-choice Karl Darlow's deal set to run out at the end of the season. While Darlow could remain, Illan Meslier is poised to depart and he could be accompanied out the door by cup keeper Lucas Perri. Long-serving keeper Alex Cairns' contract also expires in the summer. As a result, Leeds will be searching for at least one new goalkeeper and possibly more. Shakhtar Donetsk's Dmytro Riznyk is said to be a target, with reports in Ukraine suggesting that Leeds have submitted an £8.7million bid for the 27-year-old.
Defenders
Leeds are said to be amongst a host of clubs looking to secure Wolves centre-back Santiago Bueno. Crystal Palace, West Ham and Brentford are also pursuing the 27-year-old Uruguayan, according to Sport Witness. The Hammers can rule themselves out if they're relegated, as Bueno is determined to remain in the Premier League. He would command a transfer fee of approximately £13m, placing him comfortably within Leeds' price range.
Another player being linked with the Whites is Union Berlin's Danilho Doekhi. The 27-year-old has established himself as one of Europe's most dependable defenders in recent times, featuring in every single minute of action over the last two campaigns. According to Fabrizio Romano, Leeds and Borussia Dortmund are both tracking the Dutchman, whose deal with Union runs out this summer, making him an even more appealing prospect for interested clubs. Should Bueno and/or Doekhi join, it could pave the way for Joe Rodon's exit. Full-back Sam Byram, whose deal is due to expire, may also be heading for the door.
Midfielders
A seasoned central midfielder and a pair of fresh wide options would prove useful, with Largie Ramazani possibly turning his loan spell at Valencia into a permanent switch. In the engine room, Hidemasa Morita has been repeatedly linked to Leeds. His deal at Sporting CP runs out this summer, though supporters of the Lisbon outfit have urged him to remain. Morita has been amongst Sporting's star performers this campaign and at 30, this may represent his final opportunity to seal a Premier League transfer.
Leeds will likely be scouting for wide players, though the profile of targets may depend on the system employed next term, following Farke's tactical reshuffle. The Whites are understood to be monitoring Harvey Elliott's circumstances. After his peculiar loan spell at Aston Villa, he looks set to be offloaded by Liverpool this summer. Could Elland Road provide the platform to revive his career? Villa's unwillingness to meet the £35m clause he came close to triggering has led to his limited minutes. That price tag will likely fall this summer as his deal winds down, bringing him within Leeds' reach. Meanwhile, young prospect Sam Chambers may benefit from a loan move.
Attackers
This is undoubtedly an area where Leeds must bolster their options. Out-of-favour Joel Piroe will likely depart, while loanee Facundo Buonanotte appears unlikely to remain, given his sparse appearances. The inconsistent Brenden Aaronson could also be shown the door. Leeds are said to be among several clubs tracking highly rated Feyenoord forward Ayase Ueda. The Japan international has netted 26 times in all competitions this campaign and will be a pivotal figure for his nation at the World Cup. A strong showing on the global stage could send his relatively modest £13m valuation soaring, meaning Leeds would be shrewd to wrap up a deal swiftly.
Leeds' Dream 2026/27 Squad
In short, Leeds can shift fringe players and bring in recruits capable of competing for starting berths straight away, such as Bueno and Doekhi at the back and Morita in the engine room, without overstretching financially. Elliott would be a headline-grabbing acquisition following such a difficult loan spell at Villa. He will be hungry for a fresh start and determined to show what he is truly capable of. He could inject an added touch of class in the final third while also linking up with fellow new recruit Ueda.
Here's how the final squad could look:
- Goalkeepers: Dmytro Riznyk, Karl Darlow, Darryl Ombang (academy graduate)
- Defenders: Santiago Bueno, Danilho Doekhi, Jayden Bogle, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Anton Stach, Sebastiaan Bornauw, James Justin, Pascal Struijk, Jaka Bijol
- Midfielders: Hidemasa Morita, Harvey Elliott, Ethan Ampadu, Sean Longstaff, Anton Stach, Ao Tanaka, Ilia Gruev
- Forwards: Ayase Ueda, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lukas Nmecha, Noah Okafor, Dan James, Wilfried Gnonto
