Leeds United’s first pre-season clash in front of fans gets underway on Saturday against bitter rivals Manchester United, and there’s still plenty to address in the transfer window.
There’s still over a month until the start of the new Premier League season, but Leeds have lots and lots of work to get through in order to stand a chance of surviving.
Four signings have been confirmed to strengthen the starting XI and overall squad, but it’s not nearly enough as things stand.
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Transfer talk stagnates at Leeds United over quiet weekend, despite growing fan tension
It’s impossible not to look at Sunderland have a serious go at staying in the Premier League with substantial spending already behind them, and having some feeling of envy.
Leeds have recruited shrewdly with their four additions, bolstering the defence well while adding a useful free agent up front, but speculation has slowed dramatically in the past week since Gabriel Gudmundsson’s arrival.
A new goalkeeper is high on the priority list, namely with Torino’s Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, however he’s seemingly holding out for a move to Napoli after agreeing personal terms over the weekend.
(REUTERS/Matteo Ciambelli)
Beyond a goalkeeper, Leeds have been public in their interest to sign two new midfielders, as well as a big-money new striker signing as well.
Clock ticking on Leeds United looking exposed for Manchester United friendly this weekend
Leeds’ first high-profile friendly of the pre-season schedule gets underway on Saturday afternoon in Stockholm, renewing rivalries with Manchester United.
The Red Devils are notably also in the midst of yet another rebuild and are unlikely to look close to the finished article under Ruben Amorim this weekend, but have already added Matheus Cunha to the ranks from Wolves to reinforce their attack.
As Leeds prepare to travel to Sweden, there’s a worry that this pre-season clash could highlight some real weaknesses in the current Leeds squad, specifically in both boxes.
Illan Meslier being dropped with seven games to go proves that trust has vanished under Daniel Farke, but no replacement is imminent, while Lukas Nmecha is Leeds’ only current attempt to enhance their firepower in the final third, a free agent with a respectable goal return per 90, but with well-documented injury troubles that mean he’s going to require patience to find peak performance levels.
Man United were one of the worst sides in the Premier League last season that didn’t end up relegated, and could be a decent yardstick for Leeds to measure themselves against this pre-season before their survival bid, but transfer activity thus far leaves Farke’s side well short of the task ahead as things stand.