Daniel Farke felt that, given his Leeds United side found themselves 2-0 down inside half an hour at Queens Park Rangers, the eventual draw away from home constitutes a ‘good point’ in the grand scheme of things.
Yet, after slipping up at Portsmouth six days earlier, four points from a possible nine in the space of a week has breathed fresh life into a title race may considered dead in the water when Leeds United went five weeks clear only recently.
As Pascal Struijk’s late brace saw off Sunderland a month ago, Opta gave Leeds a 95 per cent chance of securing promotion. A 77 per cent chance, meanwhile, of claiming the Championship crown.
Both numbers will now have dropped somewhat.
Burnley moved up to second, and only two points off the top, by beating Swansea City 2-0 later on Saturday afternoon. Third-place Sheffield United can draw level with Leeds if they beat rivals Wednesday in Sunday’s Yorkshire derby.
Failing to secure promotion and repeat last year’s play-off heartbreak would not only deny Leeds a return to the Premier League, meanwhile. It would also provide an unhelpful disruption to the club’s summer transfer plans.
Photo by Maciej Rogowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Photo by Maciej Rogowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Leeds United linked Dario Essugo is Chelsea bound
Daniel Farke admitted that Leeds could not really step up their summer plans until their fate was decided.
Promotion not only secures Premier League football. It also provides a massive boost to the finances, while opening the door to a whole new class of transfer target.
Leeds United Newsunderstand that Leeds like Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, for instance. He has a £25 million relegation clause in his contract. The sort of fee Leeds could only afford if they are a top-flight club again.
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The same could be said of the likes of Edouard Spertsyan.
Krasnodar talisman Spertsyan is keen on a move to Leeds. But only if Premier League action returns to Elland Road.
Dario Essugo, the Sporting Lisbon starlet on loan at La Liga outfit Las Palmas, is another player who would prove far too expensive on a Championship budget.
Leeds United were linked with Dario Essugo a few months back. The Portugal Under-21 international was mooted at around £6 million.
Flash forward to mid-March, and Sporting Lisbon now look set to bank a considerably larger fee of £18.5 million.
🚨🔵 Understand Dário Essugo already said yes to Chelsea and BlueCo project with negotiations at advanced stages between clubs.
Chelsea and Sporting are negotiating for fee around €22m for 20 year old midfielder Essugo.
All parties confident to get it done. pic.twitter.com/WUnxcNc99z
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 15, 2025
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Chelsea joined the race for Essugo earlier this year. And, as they close in on a deal for one Sporting wonderkid in the Stamford Bridge-bound Geovany Quenda, it appears that another will also be making the pilgrimage from Lisbon to London.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Essugo, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Friday, has ‘already said yes’ to Chelsea’s approach. Talks are reportedly at an advanced stage too.
Leeds have £4.2m alternative in Goztepe’s Anthony Dennis
Interestingly, Essugo is not the first highly-rated defensive midfielder to be mentioned in conjunction with Leeds United.
Farke felt Leeds struggled a little without Ilia Gruev at QPR. If promotion can be secured, The Whites would certainly benefit from the sort of ball-winner capable of out-muscling the finest forwards English football has to offer.
Leeds are not yet completely out of the race for Essugo. Chelsea have not got a deal tied up yet. And Leeds, if back in the big time, can provide the sort of first-team minutes that may be unavailable at Stamford Bridge.
Dario Essugo is statistically one of the best young defensive midfielders in Europe right now. Anthony Dennis of Turkish outfit Goztepe puts up similar numbers, however, and is likely to be available for a far lower fee.
According to reports in Turkey, Leeds have opened talks with Goztepe over a potential £4.2 million deal.