Mateo Joseph and Joe Gelhardt have become the latest Leeds United players to leave the club during the summer transfer window.
Leeds United have signed seven new players to bolster Daniel Farke’s ranks but Paraag Marathe has already confirmed the need for Leeds sales this summer.
There have been upgrades to the first-team squad across most areas of the pitch, and a number of the current Championship side are being moved on if they are deemed incapable of operating in the Premier League.
The Whites have numerous players who fit that criterion, but they have only been able to sell, loan, or release a handful of players so far this summer, including Josuha Guilavogui, Rasmus Kristensen, and Junior Firpo.
Manchester United v Leeds United - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
The seven most likely players to leave Leeds United
Max Wober and Charlie Crew left on loan before Mateo Joseph and Joe Gelhardt but there are others who are sure to find a new club either permanently or via a temporary route over the next three weeks or so.
Gelhardt’s first words at Hull City showcase why he wanted to leave Leeds and the same could be said of the Spanish forward, too. Joseph’s words after a loan to Espanyol paint the picture of an unhappy player but who else is set to leave? We take a look, here.
1) Sam Greenwood
The attacking midfielder is in the final year of his contract with the club, having spent spells on loan with Middlesbrough and Preston North End in the Championship. More of the same could be in store for Sam Greenwood via a second tier switch.
2) Darko Gyabi
Darko Gyabi, Greenwood, and Gelhardt were all told to leave Leeds, with the powerful midfielder returning off the back of a mostly successful stint with Plymouth Argyle last season. Like Greenwood, he is out of contract next summer.
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
3) Patrick Bamford
Evidently, Patrick Bamford’s wages will be a problem to overcome. Much like the aforementioned pair, though, he is now in the final year of his Elland Road contract. He has been told he has no future at Leeds.
4) Jack Harrison
Jack Harrison could yet remain at the club but Leeds are publicly chasing another winger, which would place him further down the pecking order out wide. With three years left on his deal, Leeds may yet be happy to loan him again to get his wages off the books.
5) Illan Meslier
Lucas Perri’s arrival should signal the exit of the Frenchman, with Illan Meslier now a third-choice goalkeeper behind the new signing and Karl Darlow. The 25-year-old has spent six years with Leeds but is also in the final year of his deal.
6) Isaac Schmidt
Isaac Schmidt already has loan offers and Leeds will allow him to leave if they secure a full-back addition before the deadline. The Swiss international has to play regularly somewhere ahead of the World Cup next summer.
7) Ilia Gruev
Where the other six are guaranteed to be available if offers come in, the Bulgarian is more of a question mark. He could easily be a PSR gain for Leeds, though, and Anton Stach, Ethan Ampadu, and more are ahead of him in the pecking order.
Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk
Photo by Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images
Who are Leeds’ most likely PSR sales?
Heading into this summer, some reports revealed that Leeds have a £150 million transfer budget for new players, as a rough estimate.
Players leaving Leeds has to be a priority now for the club, given that PSR constraints are likely to be felt more now and with most players heading out on loan from the club.
Kristensen is the only sale they have raised any money from, even if wages have been saved via the loan exits. He is their only small PSR win thus far, which is why someone like Gruev could now be surplus to requirements and seen as a sale.
It’s for those reasons that the likes of Pascal Struijk and Willy Gnonto have been earmarked as PSR sales potentially, but Leeds will be doing all they can to keep hold of the crucial first-team duo.