Heading into this summer, Leeds United know that survival in the Premier League is dependent on a number of factors.
Firstly, Leeds United and the 49ers themselves must give Daniel Farke the required squad depth and quality for a top flight campaign via signings in the transfer market.
However, luck with injuries will also play a part. That could be for Leeds or for other teams they are competing with. The Whites will hope that teams around them struggle via poor recruitment decisions or worse luck on the pitch.
Therefore, they will be casting a keen eye over the teams at the bottom of the division, including Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers among others. Man United and Spurs are also struggling in 2024/25, but most expect somewhat of an improvement next term from both.
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Leeds United handed boost as Man United close in on Wolves forward Matheus Cunha
Other examples in the Premier League include Brentford and West Ham who could be two of the teams they have in mind as ones to catch, especially if either sell one or two of their best players and utilise the money gained poorly.
Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace could be teams to be shot at if they struggle to balance European football with their league schedule, too. Fulham could be the team for Leeds to emulate, but each of those clubs can be caught if they nail recruitment.
However, Wolves and Everton are perhaps the primary teams Leeds will be looking to overtake and finish ahead of, as well as Burnley and the winner of the play-off final. Survival is the aim ahead of then building an established side capable of competing each season.
Should Everton lose Jarrod Branthwaite — who is one of their best players in the spine of their team — they could find themselves struggling more at the back in terms of clean sheets and shots faced and the like.
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At the other end of the spectrum, Wolves could sell another key attacker and struggle to source a replacement with as much output. In this example, that would be star man Matheus Cunha. Good news is developing on that front already.
🚨 EXCL: Manchester United are now closing in on Matheus Cunha deal! 💣
The Brazilian has accepted the project as agreement on personal terms is now being finalised, almost done.
Final details to sort between all parties involved… and then, here we go. 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/4UKlMe3ipj
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 19, 2025
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Per Fabrizio Romano, the Brazilian will move to Manchester United this summer, thus severely weakening a team Leeds can hope to catch. He is capable of conjuring something up from nothing and being a match-winner on his own.
To lose a difference-maker like that could be hugely detrimental to Wolves’ survival hopes, despite their vast improvement since Vitor Pereira’s arrival in a number of areas and including in terms of points.
Of course, they could put a portion of the money raised to good use throughout the team and be better off from doing so, but Leeds have to hope that it’s as it appears right now: a devastating blow.
Appearances Minutes Minutes per G/A Goals Assists
34 2719 118 17 6
Matheus Cunha’s 2024/25 Wolves stats
His output is incredible for a player featuring for a team who have been in the bottom eight for almost the entire season, and most of that in the bottom five as well. He is not an out-and-out centre-forward, either, with Cunha operating as a No.10 or in wide attacking roles mostly.
Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
Who could Leeds’ answer to Matheus Cunha be?
The elephant in the room with this is that Leeds perhaps lack the X-factor quality in the final third themselves, meaning Wolves would still have a stronger base than the Whites even without Cunha.
This season, the players who could be described as ‘moments players’ more than any other are Willy Gnonto and Manor Solomon. Their technical quality and decisive nature set them apart from many of the current Leeds squad.
Solomon is no longer a Leeds player after his loan spell ended. Leeds, therefore, need a magician akin to Pablo Hernandez in the Championship and Raphinha in the Premier League. Cunha was that for Wolves but it’s something all teams at the bottom require.
They don’t grow on trees and they won’t come cheap, which means a large chunk of Leeds’ budget will have to go towards a differential attacking player of that nature this summer.
In order to stop the promotion and relegation cycle from the Premier League, Leeds must spend wisely in the transfer market and the 49ers could green-light heavy Leeds investment in the summer window soon.