There are two ways Leeds United could approach this summer but which way it unfolds is out of their control – it is based purely on promotion to the Premier League, or failure.
Promotion will see Leeds go to the Premier League and open up a complete new calibre of possible signings over the next couple of months. However, remaining in the Championship is a different story.
It will force Leeds into selling their best players in order to balance the books, with parachute payments reduced by more than half. Leeds then will lose their best players and probably manager Daniel Farke.
But whatever happens, Leeds and Farke will be hoping to find the best value for money on the market. Certainly, they will be hoping to replicate the success they have had with the signing of Ao Tanaka.
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Daniel Farke sends top scout to Germany for new Leeds signing
Whether they are in the Championship or in the Premier League, Leeds will be keen to find another Tanaka. Bought for £3.4m from Germany’s second tier, he is in with a shout for Player of the Season.
Ready for the Premier League, Tanaka has been immense – even better, that he was bought for a bargain transfer fee. Leeds will be desperate to do it again and Farke has put his best Leeds scout on the job.
The Sun’s Alan Nixon claims on his Patreon channel that Farke has sent his no.1 man to Germany to check out the Bundesliga and Germany’s second tier in order to try and unearth another gem this summer.
Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images
Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images
Ao Tanaka repeat is unlikely, but Farke planning on Leeds stay
For Leeds to bring in a player like Tanaka for a fee of just £3.4m is sensational business. There is no chance of it happening when in the Premier League, because clubs will request Premier League money.
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However, what it does show is that Farke is planning for the future at Elland Road. He will have no intention of leaving Yorkshire even if failure to get promoted to the Premier League will see him exit.
He cannot rest on his laurels and simply hope that he remains in a job. Farke needs to plan longer-term and if it means repeating a deal that Leeds struck for Tanaka is unlikely to be replicated this summer.