Leeds United will already be thinking about the make up of their squad for next season
Brian Dick Reach Football Correspondent
05:00, 30 Mar 2026
Leo Scienza (L) of Southampton celebrates with teammate Finn Azaz
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Leo Scienza (L) of Southampton celebrates with teammate Finn Azaz (Image: Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Whatever happens in the final seven games this season Leeds United will once again be looking to fortify their squad in the summer.
If they win their fight for Premier League survival – and the prospects are good – they will need to add depth and quality in key positions to turn draws into wins and nils and ones into twos and threes.
If they don’t they could well be looking at players who have excelled in the Championship to help them bounce back at the first time of asking.
So far this season there have been several players that have really caught the eye playing in the second tier, players who have suggested they have what it takes to succeed at high level.
LeedsLive has put together the pick of the bunch that could bolster the Whites’ squad.
Femi Azeez (Millwall)
Femi Azeez
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Femi Azeez(Image: Getty Images)
The Lions winger is the trendy name around the Championship at the moment – and for good reason. He is the crown jewel in an otherwise powerful and physical Millwall team.
Azeez joined from Reading a couple of seasons ago and has scored eight times and added eight assists in 28 games.
He plays predominantly as a right winger and has already caught the eye of clubs like Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Brentford – Leeds could offer him regular Premier League exposure, albeit they have not played with wingers for the last couple of months.
His goal against Birmingham, a laser from the corner of the area into the top of the net, and assist against Hull, swept in from the right away from the goalkeeper and right into Mihailo Ivanovic’s feet, are testament to his ability.
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Leo Scienza (Southampton)
It’s probably odd to describe a 27-year-old as a rising star but the attacker, who can play wing or No. 10, has taken a very scenic route to the Championship.
Southampton signed him last summer with him having spent time in lower league football in Sweden and Germany. He’s been a sensation.
The Brazilian is unplayable on his day, fast, direct and productive. Six goals and eight assist in 30 games suggest he is ready for the next step, albeit he still has three years left on his contract at St Mary’s.
It has been reported that Paris FC tried to pay €10 million for him last summer and at that price Leeds could be tempted to see how high his ceiling really is.
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Ryan Giles (Hull City)
Ryan Giles could well be on his way out of Hull City this month
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Ryan Giles(Image: Matt Wilkinson/Focus Images Ltd)
The left back’s potential has long been known, coming through at Wolves he was one of the rising stars, albeit one that couldn’t force his way into Nuno Espirito Santo’s thinking.
What followed is a series of loans, including one at Luton when they were in the Premier League, a few injuries and several reminders of just what he offers from full back.
At his best the 26-year-old is as an adventrous over-lapper with elite quality on his delivery, eight assists from his first 20 games this season attest to that. He’s currently out with a hamstring problem and the Tigers have missed him badly.
It is difficult to see him beating out Gabriel Gudmundsson for regular starts but Sergej Jakirovic has clearly been able to tap into the enormous potential. He has one year left on his contract, plus an option and it's enticing to imagine what Dominic Calvert-Lewin would do with his pinpoint crosses.
Tristan Crama (Millwall)
Coventry City's Ephron Mason-Clark (right) and Millwall's Tristan Crama
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Coventry City's Ephron Mason-Clark (right) and Millwall's Tristan Crama(Image: PA)
The 24-year-old has been playing right back quite a bit this season – and as much as I don’t think Leeds really need to prioritise that postion, neither would I be massively comfortable with him up against some of the Premier League’s better wingers.
He could do – and often does – a very good job as a centre-back, though. Brentford brought him over from France and he excelled on loan with Exeter in League One to such an extent it was slightly surprising when the Bees sold him to Millwall.
At 6ft 4ins, with good positioning and decent technical ability, he’s got all the physical attributes to be a top flight defender. He’s a winner in both boxes and could be an outstanding pick-up playing as the right-sided centre back in a three.
Strikers
Zan Vipotnik of Swansea City (C)
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Zan Vipotnik of Swansea City (C) (Image: Getty Images)
United will surely need to add to their options up front and in truth there isn’t really a goal machine kicking in Championship defences.
Zan Vipotnik at Swansea is the leading scorer and at 23-years-old we’re yet to discover the height of his potential. Is he athletic enough to go with his obvious power?
Patrick Agyemang has done well at Derby, first coming off the left hand side then through the middle. He’s only 25-years-old and has ten goals so far this term. There’s a lot of developing to be done but he’s a good athlete and great in the air.
Ivanovic at Millwall has eight from 28 and has promise at 21-years-old but one wonders if he is ready for the top flight.
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Older heads like Kieffer Moore, McBurnie and Adam Armstrong remain potent in the Championship but have had their chance and not really made it in the Premier League.