Leeds United are returning to the Premier League after a two-season hiatus, but as champions? That’s yet to be decided.
Leeds United secured promotion to the Premier League on Monday after watching Sheffield United lose 2-1 away at Burnley, who will also be joining Leeds in the top flight for next season.
It comes at a second time of trying for Danie Farke whose side lost the Championship play-off final last season. But the owners stuck with Farke who’s duly delivered success this time round.
Now, it’s about winning the title. Chairman Paraag Marathe has hailed Farke and Leeds United and winning the title would be the icing on the cake for the club and for Farke, who’s not been without critics this season.
But if Leeds United are to now stabilise in the Premier League and avoid the fate of the likes of Southampton, Ipswich Town, and Leicester City in the Premier League this season, then the summer ahead must be a brilliant one in terms of recruitment.
Roy Keane explains why Leeds United could struggle in the summer transfer window
Speaking on Sky Sports about how poorly last season’s promoted Championship teams have performed in the Premier League this season (all sit in the bottom three with Southampton and Leicester City already relegated), Roy Keane revealed how the top players simply don’t want to join newly-promoted Premier League teams because of how difficult it is for those teams.
He explained: “When you do get promoted you’re talking about recruitment, but it’s hard to get top players because a lot of the really good players, they don’t want to go to a promoted team because they don’t want to be playing at that level. They want to be competing at mid-table or obviously competing for big prizes. So that’s a massive challenge.”
Leeds United’s previous first season back in the Premier League, the 2020/21 season, saw them finish in a remarkable 9th place, with big money spent on several players including Rodrigo and Raphinha among others.
Daniel Farke has already hinted at summer transfer wish for Leeds United
Speaking in the wake of securing promotion, Farke discussed the 2025/26 Premier League season and hinted at his demands for a big summer transfer window from the club’s hierarchy.
He said: “We want to become an established Premier League side but lots of work is needed, lots of ambition is needed, but we’ll worry about the stress in a few days. The next few days, we’ll just enjoy the moment and celebrate.”
Farke surely knows the challenges lying ahead for his side. Not only do his existing players need to step up but he also needs the blessing of the owners to be able to go into the transfer market and make the signings needed to keep Leeds up.
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