After securing promotion from the Championship at the end of the season, Leeds United will need to make shrewd additions if they are to build on their success.
Daniel Farke has led the side back to the Premier League, but the hard work starts now for the German, given the nature of the task he’s faced with in 2025/26.
The last six teams promoted to England’s top-flight have all suffered an immediate relegation back to the second tier, with the Whites looking to avoid suffering the same fate.
However, despite registering a total of 100 points in this campaign, investment is needed from the hierarchy if they are to be competitive and maintain their Premier League status.
The manager will also need to move some players on from Elland Road, with multiple already touted with transfers away from Yorkshire over the coming months.
The latest on players who could leave Leeds this summer
Left-back Junior Firpo is one player who looks set to leave Leeds this summer, with his contract now just having over a month left until he becomes a free agent.
He’s since been touted with a whole host of moves away from Yorkshire, with Spanish outfit Real Betis strongly linked with a move to resign the 28-year-old ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Striker Mateo Joseph had huge expectations going into this season, but it’s safe to say that the Spaniard has struggled massively, scoring just three goals in his 39 league outings.
Like Firpo, he too has been touted with a summer switch back to LaLiga, with Betis also keen on a deal to sign the Spanish U21 international in the coming months.
However, despite the interest in the aforementioned pair, one other player needs to be sold from the club during the off-season, handing Farke the funds to make changes to his squad.
The player who Farke needs to sell this summer
After a two-year absence from the top-flight, Leeds will return to such a division ahead of 2025/26, looking to match the performance levels they set for themselves in 2020/21.
Under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa, the Whites secured a ninth-placed finish, taking the division by storm with his infamous ‘Bielsa Ball’ system which required high-intensity running.
Only numerous players from that squad currently remain at Elland Road, with striker Patrick Bamford one of those stars – scoring 17 times and earning an England call-up as a result.
Winger Jack Harrison is another talent who was part of such a squad, but he’s massively disappointed in recent years, being sent on loan to Everton for the last couple of seasons.
During his time at Elland Road, he caught the eye with his pace and eye for a goal, leading to former Whites star David Norris labelling him “exciting to watch”.
He’s notched a combined total of 207 appearances for the club over various spells, registering 34 goals in such time – but he shouldn’t be given the chance to add to such tallies in 2025/26.
After relegation back in 2022/23, he would leave and join the Toffees on two separate loan stints, but it was announced earlier this week that they would not be making his deal permanent this summer.
As a result, he will return to Yorkshire, but Farke should sell him and raise funds for new additions, allowing him to try and resurrect his career elsewhere in the coming months.
His figures at Goodison Park compared to his latest season in Yorkshire highlight his demise over the last few years, desperately needing to cut ties and allow him to move onto pastures new.
Games played
36
34
Goals & assists
12
1
Chances created
1.8
1.4
Successful dribbles
1.6
1
Dribble success
45%
35%
Recoveries made
5.8
3.1
Duels won
4.3
3.8
The 28-year-old still has three years left on his current deal at Elland Road, but it remains unclear how much they will demand to sell him during the off-season.
However, given such a dip in performance, it’s clear that he’s not at the level required if the side are to survive the drop next campaign, allowing the manager to make his own stamp on the squad.
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