As Leeds United prepare for their highly anticipated return to the Premier League, one thing is abundantly clear: effective squad building will be absolutely essential. After sealing promotion last season, the club’s recruitment team faces a summer of high-pressure decision-making, with a significant overhaul of the playing squad expected.
The Premier League is unforgiving for newly promoted sides, and recent history serves as a stark warning. In the current season, all three promoted clubs were relegated—marking the second consecutive year that the trio of newcomers have gone straight back down. It’s a cautionary tale that Leeds cannot afford to ignore, especially when looking at the fates of Ipswich Town and Southampton, who both invested heavily but still failed to retain their top-flight status.
To avoid a similar outcome, Leeds must inject top-tier quality into their ranks. While the current squad has shown resilience and talent in the Championship, the leap to Premier League football is a different beast altogether. Manager Daniel Farke will be at the heart of this rebuilding process. Not only will he be working closely with the recruitment department to identify and sign key targets, but he will also be evaluating his current crop of players to determine who has what it takes to succeed at the next level.
This summer could see a number of players depart Elland Road—not just due to performance evaluations, but also for financial reasons. In today’s footballing climate, compliance with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) is non-negotiable. Even if certain players meet Premier League standards, the club may need to offload assets to balance the books and avoid sanctions.
Amid all the speculation and planning, BBC Sport’s Adam Pope offered some valuable insight into the current Leeds squad. According to Pope, around seven players appear ready to step up to Premier League competition.
“Ethan Ampadu, Ao Tanaka, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Dan James, I believe, will be able to cope in the Premier League,” Pope observed.
He went on to highlight the potential of young Italian forward Willy Gnonto, who, despite some inconsistency, possesses the raw talent to become a star. Additionally, striker Joel Piroe was praised for his exceptional finishing ability, even if he lacks the blistering pace typically associated with Premier League attackers.
Despite these promising names, it is evident that Leeds still need a serious injection of quality. The step up to the Premier League demands players who can compete with the best in the world. The gulf in quality between the Championship and the Premier League is massive—and bridging that gap is not easy.
Leeds fans will remember how, following their promotion in 2020, the club made some shrewd signings—bringing in talents like Raphinha and Rodrigo Moreno. Those additions were vital in helping them achieve a respectable finish in their first season back. However, the transfer market has evolved since then. Player valuations have skyrocketed, and competition for quality signings is fiercer than ever.
This time around, Leeds will likely have to pay a premium to secure the level of talent needed to survive. Smart recruitment, strong leadership from Farke, and a willingness to make tough decisions will be vital in the months ahead. If Leeds can strike the right balance between strengthening the squad and maintaining financial discipline, they stand a chance of bucking the trend and establishing themselves once again as a competitive Premier League side.
