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The transfer window is nearly here, with it officially opening tomorrow (Friday). It’s ‘any news?’ season, and it promises to be a big one for Leeds United.
Last summer brought a post-relegation rebuild. New manager Daniel Farke arrived at Elland Road and was tasked with assembling a squad capable of winning promotion back to the Premier League. One year and some more play-off final heartbreak later, that task remains the same. This time, though, it is likely to be a case of fine-tuning.
Leeds did not go down last season, so there is no need to carry out a complete overhaul of what is a talented squad. There are, though, two key elements to their 2024 summer.
Profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) will play a big role. Leeds will likely need to move one or more players on to avoid any issues with the EFL’s financial rules on spending. Who those players are and how much they get from them could shape how this off-season unfolds.
Leeds have also been handed the unwelcome task of having to trigger their ‘Plan B’. This is the ‘Still-in-the-Championship’ plan — and they have less time than all of their rivals to prepare before the games start again. Reaching the play-off final, played three weeks after most of the other 23 clubs in English football’s second tier started their summers, has meant a tight turnaround for decisions on loaned players returning to base and early incomings.
There is one signing in place until the end of the summer, with no news yet on his future beyond that.
Interim football advisor Nick Hammond, who was crucial in getting several recent deals over the line, joined last summer and will be sticking around until the end of this window at least.
Having previously held sporting/technical director roles at Reading, West Bromwich Albion and Celtic and been an advisor to Newcastle United’s new owners, Hammond was part of the interview process that picked Farke out as the best managerial candidate and also carried responsibility for moving players in and out following relegation.
Hammond will still be working with Leeds this summer (Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
As for potential incomings, Leeds are interested in bringing back two loanees from last season: Joe Rodon and Connor Roberts.
Centre-back Rodon has returned to his Premier League parent club Tottenham Hotspur after a successful stint at Elland Road. He made 50 appearances in all competitions, 49 of them starts, and formed a solid partnership with his Wales team-mate Ethan Ampadu — another Hammond success story from last summer, after his move from Chelsea. Spurs have triggered a year-long extension option in Rodon’s contract, which was due to expire this month.
While Leeds’ original loan deal for the 26-year-old did not have a purchase clause written into it, they could still borrow the Wales international again, given that longer contract, but Tottenham are in a strong position. They might also be disinterested in loaning him out if they can’t extend his deal further. There is interest from the Premier League after Rodon’s impressive displays in last season’s Championship and a permanent fee could be beyond Leeds’ reach if bidders from the top flight become involved.
Roberts, another Wales defender, has a year left on his contract at Burnley, who are back in the second tier for next season. The 28-year-old full-back’s future could depend on who fills the managerial vacancy at Turf Moor, following Vincent Kompany’s appointment at Bayern Munich.
After losing his place in Kompany’s starting XI last October, the door opened for Roberts to make a winter window move. He spent the second half of the season on loan at Elland Road, making 15 appearances, having been limited by a thigh injury suffered on international duty in March.
Between relegation and Kompany’s departure, things are in a state of flux at Burnley, which is likely to impact any chance of a return to Leeds. Kompany’s former assistant Craig Bellamy has been made interim head coach, with interviews for a permanent successor expected to begin this week. Ex-Hull City manager Liam Rosenior, former Chelsea and Derby boss Frank Lampard and previous Fulham and Bournemouth manager Scott Parker are among those under consideration.
Leeds will have their eye on another deal for Roberts, but he is assessing his options.
Brenden Aaronson’s return from his season on loan in the German Bundesliga with Union Berlin has also impacted the squad make-up.
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After constructive talks with Farke, who has the final say on all signings as part of Leeds’ recruitment setup, the United States international is to be given a second chance to impress at Leeds. Aaronson had a difficult debut season at Elland Road in 2022-23 as his new club ended up relegated. But the return of the 23-year-old can be a positive for Leeds. They lacked a natural replacement for Georginio Rutter last season, and Aaronson can feature in that No 10 role.
Aaronson could have gone on loan again amid further interest from Germany. Instead, he is keen to prove his value after his 2022 transfer from Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg for £25million.
A lot of Leeds’ business might be dictated by outgoings.
With PSR to consider, Leeds may have to cash in on some of their best assets, such as Rutter, Archie Gray, Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville. These deals would mean additions being required in wide areas or in midfield. For example, if Leeds need to recruit a midfielder because of exits, Tottenham’s Oliver Skipp would be a player of interest.
Skipp has played a bit part role under Ange Postecolgou at Spurs (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
For example, if Gray were to leave, there would be questions over the amount of cover at right-back.
The retained list this week confirmed Luke Ayling’s departure, while contract talks continue with Jamie Shackleton. The latter has other offers and is keen to get more minutes than the 676 he got in last season’s Championship, and Farke wants to keep him, but Gray became first-choice at right-back in his breakthrough season — with some stints in his preferred central midfield position.
Leeds do have Rasmus Kristensen, who is in Denmark’s squad for Euro 2024, still on the books but his future remains unclear following a season on loan to Serie A’s Roma.
This is also the case for Marc Roca, Maximilian Wober and Diego Llorente, who spent the season on loan at Real Betis, Borussia Monchengladbach and Roma respectively.
Leeds intend to assess each player’s situation individually before deciding what to do with him for 2024-25.
As always with the window just getting under way, there are plenty of moving parts, but Leeds are already making plans as they look to build for the new season.
(Top photo: Getty Images)
