Leeds United's four recruits so far this summer have brought about hope upon their return to the Premier League.
Jaka Bijol, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Lukas Nmecha have already arrived at Elland Road ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, but there are two key areas which still need to be addressed.
Frustrations have arisen given the recent pursuit of Sean Longstaff over the past week, with the Whites having seen a third bid of £12 million rejected in recent days.
The 27-year-old has seemingly had his time at Newcastle United and with Leeds offering a perfect exit route, forming a solid partnership with Ao Tanaka looks to be appealing.
A Premier League-proven candidate, it remains to be seen how long Whites boss Daniel Farke and his team hold out for a move, with the potential for other targets to fall away as a result of a continued attempt to recruit Longstaff.
"Everyone knows that Newcastle's midfield three picks itself now but the deal has got to be right," said former Magpies defender John Anderson on BBC Radio Newcastle recently.
"You can't let sentiment get in the way because if you want to progress and move forward then these decisions have to be made.
"I think Leeds' offer of £10m is too low and he is worth at least £15m if not more because of the experience he brings."
Elsewhere, the situation surrounding a new number one goalkeeper seems to have gone cold in recent weeks, with Lucas Perri, Nick Pope and Marcin Bulka all rumoured targets.
With Illan Meslier's position uncertain, Farke will hope a fresh face in between the sticks can arrive before the end of their pre-season schedule.
Torino’s Vanja Milinkovic-Savic may just be too expensive at £19m, but the 28-year-old brings a wealth of experience and would be a solid addition to help bolster the Whites' ranks.
Claims Leeds could spend up to £150m will only irk fans that more is not being done, but in an already competitive market, it is proving harder than ever to bring players to England, especially if you are a recently-promoted side
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