Leeds United have finished pre-season and are now gearing up for their Premier League opener against Everton on Monday.
Leeds United take on a new-look Everton side at Elland Road on Monday, in an 8pm kick-off. For Daniel Farke and his side, it’s the first Premier League game in two years after missing out on promotion to the Premier League last summer following defeat in the Championship play-off final in 2024.
But last season, Leeds United won the Championship title finishing on 100 points, level with Burnley in 2nd but winning on goal difference.
And so far this summer, Leeds United have signed seven new players and results in pre-season have looked fairly steady with draws against Manchester United, Villarreal and AC Milan last time out.
But ahead of the weekend’s opening round of Premier League fixtures, we look at the winners and losers at Leeds United from pre-season…
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The winners from Leeds United’s pre-season
Wilfried Gnonto
After Manor Solomon’s return to Tottenham Hotspur, Wilfried Gnonto has come back into contention and he showed some promising signs in pre-season, enough to make many fans believe that he will be the starting right-sided attacker for Leeds United next season; that is unless Farke signs a new player for that position before the summer transfer window shuts on September 1st.
Isaac Schmidt
Isaac Schmidt has played the last two games for Leeds United at right-back. The Swiss defender, who started no games for Leeds United last season, looks as though he’ll start the season opener against Everton with Jayden Bogle currently injured. It is reported that Bogle has returned to training ahead of the Everton game but whether or not he’s fit enough to start remains to be seen, if not unlikely.
Harry Gray
One youngster who’s been involved with the first team throughout the summer is Harry Gray. The youngster turned heads last season, enough for Gray to earn transfer links to Spurs where brother Archie Gray has excelled in the last two games as Farke has looked to field stronger XI’s in time for the Premier League opener. Gray has featured in both games suggesting that he’s well in contention to feature next season.
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Lukas Nmecha
Lukas Nmecha was the first player to sign for Leeds United this summer. And upon signing, Leeds United fans were divided about the Nmecha signing, but he’s given fans plenty of hope for the new season after some promising performances in pre-season. The former Man City man has scored two goals in five appearances, and looks as though he’s ready to really challenge Joel Piroe for the starting spot next season.
Joel Piroe
Joel Piroe has also proved prolific in pre-season. The Dutchman has scored four goals in the summer, and it looks as though he will start against Everton and make his Premier League debut at the top of the Leeds United XI. Piroe won the Golden Boot in the Championship last season with 19 goals, and if he can hit double figures in the Premier League next season, it will be a huge success for the 26-year-old.
Pascal Struijk
Piroe’s fellow Dutchman Pascal Struijk has also been involved in pre-season. After the arrivals of Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw, it looked as though Struijk had fallen down the pecking order. There’s even been rumours linking Struijk with a move away from Leeds United this summer. But with Bornauw injured and Bijol suspended for the Everton game, Struijk has been featuring and starting in pre-season, and it looks as though he’ll keep his starting spot against Everton.
Jaka Bijol ahead of a friendly between Slovenia and Bulgaria.
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The losers from Leeds United’s pre-season
Jaka Bijol
Leeds United paid £15m to sign Bijol from Udinese. It was a deal that Farke and the 49ers have worked on for a while, and it looks like it will prove to be a good signing in the long run. But with Bijol suspended for the Everton game, he’s played just a half in most games in pre-season, then only 16 minutes in the last game against Milan. The suspension against Everton has made for a bit of a stop-start season for the Slovenian.
Sean Longstaff
Fellow new signing Sean Longstaff has also had a bit of a mixed pre-season. It was another £15m signing for Farke, and it’s another signing that looks like it will come good next season, but Longstaff has shown mixed signs so far in pre-season. Perhaps he just needs a bit more time to get up to speed and to get to grips with the Leeds style of play.
Patrick Bamford
Patrick Bamford meanwhile hasn’t featured once in pre-season. Bamford has been told he can leave Leeds United this summer, but he would have hoped to get some minutes under his belt and set himself up for a move elsewhere. There has been little talk of clubs being interested or making a move for the striker, but expect him to move on before the September 1st deadline.
Jack Harrison
Jack Harrison has made an unexpected return to the fray at Leeds United this summer. After spending two seasons on loan to Everton, it looked as though he’d be the first to leave the club this summer, but Farke has given him some minutes in pre-season. Leeds United fans have constantly been heard booing Harrison in games, though, suggesting that he won’t win back the support of the Elland Road faithful. Whilst Farke may have plans for him, it may be best for Harrison and the club if they part ways.