With Leeds United six points clear of the relegation zone with six games left to play in the Premier League, the 49ers can begin turning their attention towards the summer transfer window.
On that front, there could still be some big changes, despite the club's top-flight status. Daniel Farke's mid-season system change may leave those at Elland Road with no choice but to show the door to several stars who no longer have a place.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke
This could include Dan James, Wilfried Gnonto and another attacker who was beginning to look like Archie Gray.
A big summer of sales on the cards for Leeds
If Farke is to stick with his back five, then there will be no place for wingers in his squad. Both James and Gnonto have already struggled for Premier League starts since the system change and that is unlikely to improve anytime soon if further reinforcements arrive in the coming months.
PL 25/26 James Gnonto
Starts 4 4
Goals 0 0
Assists 0 1
Similar can be said for Ao Tanaka. The midfielder has been kept out of Leeds' best side by Anton Stach and Ethan Ampadu for the majority of the campaign, despite some impressive performances himself.
Now, reports are claiming that he could be set to seal an exit away from the Yorkshire club when the summer transfer window swings open.
Tanaka-Leeds-Liverpool
Selling Tanaka would represent the ruthless mood that the 49ers are potentially operating with this summer. They're not just looking to survive next season. They're clearly hoping to build on what they have achieved this season and so much more.
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The bad news for those on the fringes of Farke's squad is that the end of their Elland Road careers could be nearing ever closer and that includes a forgotten man who was once looking like Gray.
Archie Gray 2.0 must be set free from Leeds
The last time that a certain Mateo Joseph featured for Leeds came on the final day of the Championship campaign last season. He played just one minute against Plymouth.
mateo-joseph-leeds
The game before that, he featured for just four against Bristol City in his first league appearance in five games. The forward's Elland Road career has unofficially been over ever since.
Farke's decision has been vindicated this season, too. Sent on loan to Spanish side RCD Mallorca, the 22-year-old has scored just two goals and created another four in all competitions. It is simply not Premier League standard.
Joseph's record for Leeds hasn't been much better. When he has been involved, making 73 appearances, the forward has been involved in just ten goals in all competitions.
Joseph at Leeds
Games
Goals
Assists
It's quite the downfall for a player who was once compared to Gray by The Athletic's Phil Hay, who said in 2024: "For the time being the structure with Bamford up front is what’s worked really well for Farke since January, and he shows no inclination to shift away from that, or to move back towards a set up with Piroe in the team.
“But Joseph is starting to look a little bit like Archie Gray, I mean Archie Gray looks like the superior player of the two, but one of those academy players who you’re going to see a lot of as time goes on.”
sam-chambers-leeds-joseph
Of course, Gray went on to leave the club for as much as £30m in the same year and whilst Joseph's sale won't welcome the same expensive fee, it is needed for all parties.
For the sake of his career, the 22-year-old must secure a permanent move away from the Yorkshire club and set his sights on finally discovering his goal-scoring touch.
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Leeds United look set to delve into the transfer window once again this summer.