If - and it remains an if - Leeds United do secure a return to the Premier League at the second attempt, the onus will be on getting recruitment right in order to try and bridge the gap between themselves and the top flight.
The issue is, that gap has become something of a gulf in recent times, with the three promoted sides looking all but certain to secure a swift return back into the Championship. Leeds' playoff final opponents, Southampton, are currently on course to end the campaign with the lowest Premier League points tally ever.
That illustrates the task ahead should Daniel Farke's men be successful in their promotion push, with the aim to enjoy a far more fruitful stay in the top tier, after lasting just three seasons in the division following their return in 2020.
There will be a desire to improve upon the at times reckless recruitment that Victor Orta and co oversaw in the top-flight, with far too many high-profile arrivals having failed to work out.
Leeds' 2020 transfer mistakes under Orta
With regard to the summer of 2020 - and a window that would proceed a remarkable ninth-placed finish for Marcelo Bielsa's side - the Whites did strike gold with the £17m signing of Raphinha, having ultimately sold the Brazilian for £55m just two years later.
Raphinha-Leeds-Stats (timeless)
That said, that first window back in the Premier League did see some costly moves made, with Orta forking out a then-club-record £26m fee for Rodrigo, only for the Spaniard - who did net 27 league goals - to go on to leave for just £3m in 2023.
Elsewhere, a further £18m was spent on Diego Llorente, albeit with the injury-hit Spaniard making just 59 appearances over the next three seasons, prior to departing permanently for Real Betis for just £2.5m last summer.
That 2020 window also saw current number one, Illan Meslier, acquired on a permanent basis from Lorient, albeit with the young Frenchman still a polarising figure at Elland Road, having notably made two errors leading to a goal in the Championship this season, as per Sofascore.
One notable error was also the £16m permanent capture of loanee Helder Costa, following his role in the promotion push, with the one-time Wolverhampton Wanderers man leaving by mutual consent in October 2023, after making just 23 top-flight appearances for the club.
Where are they now
Where Are They Now
Costa is not alone in also representing an expensive mistake at Orta's hand, with Robin Koch - who has now rediscovered his form elsewhere - also leaving for nothing...
The Leeds flop who's now performing like Van Dijk
As evidenced above, many of those who were brought in during that 2020 window hardly proved long-term, influential signings, although, in the case of Koch, the German did at least play regularly during his three-year stint at the club.
Signed from Freiburg for an initial fee of £11.5m, the now 28-year-old made 73 appearances in the Premier League for the Yorkshire giants, having notably started 36 games in that doomed 2022/23 campaign.
That consistent run in the side only yielded five clean sheets as Leeds toiled under a string of managers, with the defensive unit shipping a staggering 78 goals in the league alone that season.
Koch-Frankfurt-Bundesliga
Unsurprisingly, Koch was the subject of his fair share of criticism, with LeedsLive's Beren Cross describing him as "horrible to watch", while pundit Gabby Agbonlahor included him among a group of players who he deemed "not good enough" for the club.
Those woes resulted in a loan exit to Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2023, before the versatile defender - who can operate in midfield - returned to Germany permanently last summer upon the expiration of his Leeds contract.
koch-leeds-premier-league-llorente-bielsa-transfer
To Koch's credit, he appears to have found a new lease of life for the Europa League outfit, with that rise shown by his soaring market value which stands at around £15m, according to Transfermarkt.
Indeed, as per FBref, the second-most stylistically similar player to the 6 foot 4 star in Europe's top five leagues is Virgil van Dijk, with the pair particularly alike with regard to their aerial prowess. Indeed, both Koch and Van Dijk - as indicated below - are also adept in possession and when posing a threat in the opposition penalty area.
Koch vs Van Dijk comparison - last 365 days
Stat (per 90)
Non-penalty goals
Total shots
Passes attempted
Pass completion
Progressive passes
Touches in attacking box
Tackles
Clearances
Aerial duels won
Stats via FBref
Previously described as having the quality to become a "monster of a centre-back" by ex-Freiburg teammate, Vincenzo Grifo, the Leeds flop has made 31 appearances in all competitions this season, having also forced his way back into Julian Nagelsmann's plans at international level.
While Farke and co do boast the likes of Pascal Struijk, Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu in their centre-back ranks these days, there may be a sense of frustration at having let Koch depart, particularly considering the German giant moved on for nothing.
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