Daniel Farke with Anton Stach and Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media
James Barker
Thu 16 April 2026 9:10, UK
Leeds United have laid the groundworks this season for a top-half Premier League finish in 2026-27.
It’s been a 2025-26 season full of ups and downs for Leeds, but one memorable Monday night at Old Trafford has surely all but confirmed their place among English football’s elite for another year.
Daniel Farke‘s side stepped out of the shadow left by Jermaine Beckford, with an entire Whites team writing their own place in Leeds folklore with the 2-1 win against Manchester United.
Noah Okafor was clinical, every player in a White shirt stuck to their tasks and were excellent, and the away end was an ‘I was there’ section that will be a new gold standard for many who experienced it moving forward.
But, what Leeds’ performance against Man United also displayed was the huge potential this team has going into next season.
MORE LEEDS STORIES
⚽Leeds United match day ⚽
Team news, line-ups, expert previews and tactical analysis for every Leeds United fixture
Get 24/7 updates from your definitive Whites source
Why Leeds United can make Premier League top half next season
Farke will no doubt be telling the media, fans and his players that the job of staying up this season is not yet done, but barring a total collapse, Leeds are now all but safe.
Indeed, with Elland Road fixtures against Wolves, Burnley and Brighton still to come, as well as away trips to Tottenham, Bournemouth and West Ham, the Whites likely only require another couple of points.
Leeds’ remaining Premier League games Date
Wolves (H) Sat, 18 Apr
Bournemouth (A) Wed, 22 Apr
Burnley (H) Fri, 1 May
Tottenham (A) Mon, 11 May
Brighton (H) Sun, 17 May
West Ham (A) Sun, 24 May
So, whilst I’m not intending to jinx anything or allocate points that haven’t yet been won, that’s a hugely favourable run-in that should see enough points collected to make absolutely sure of their Premier League place.
Once that’s done, Elland Road chiefs will shift focus to the summer and what’s needed to kick this team on next season, but thanks to the largely excellent recruitment work this season, the foundations have been laid for a top-half finish next term.
Pascal Struijk and Jaka Bijol give Leeds two excellent centre-backs, whilst Gabriel Gudmundsson showed against United that he has all the makings of a top left-back/left wing-back moving forward too.
Meanwhile, Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka were a joke on Monday, and with Sean Longstaff and Ilia Gruev also pushing for playing time there, Leeds’ engine room looks set for the foreseeable future.
Jaka Bijol vs Manchester United
Credit: Breaking Media/Sofascore
Okafor showed just how much he’s got to offer with his two goals at Old Trafford, and the 25-year-old is a player that is only going to keep improving the more games he plays.
Brenden Aaronson, I think, also has another gear to find, and the American international could’ve had an even more productive season had he not gone through his flat spell over the last couple of months.
Then leading the line you’ve got a proper number nine in Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who at 29 is still very much in the prime of his career, and has shown that he can and will score goals in the right system and with adequate service.
I feel that the nucleus of what a top-half team has to have is present in this Leeds side, and with another ambitious summer transfer window sure to be on the cards, a handful of quality starters will take this team to another level.
What positions do Leeds need new starters in next season?
So, what areas of this side should Leeds chiefs be underlining on their summer shopping list to enter the basket first?
Well, for me, I think another starting centre-back is a must. Joe Rodon hasn’t been bad this year, but if Farke wants to play a back three, then I think bringing in a big signing there to play alongside Struijk and Bijol would give Leeds a top-half backline.
Then I look to right-back/right wing-back, and like with Rodon, it’s not that Jayden Bogle has been poor, but upgrading there would complete Leeds’ defence, and turn it into a real top-class unit.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke looking happy in front of Leeds' predicted points tally in the Premier League.
Credit: Breaking Media
After that, I’d maybe look at signing another versatile attacking midfielder with a similar profile to Okafor, who can play anywhere across the forward line, and perhaps offer an upgrade on an Aaronson in the XI.
If Karl Darlow doesn’t sign a new deal, then a new goalkeeper to rival Lucas Perri would be a must also, but should he stay on, the veteran Welshman has proven he’s still a quality shot-stopper at this level.
That’s not an awful lot to ask from Leeds, as I really do think this current group are only three, four new starters away tops from transitioning into a top-half outfit next season, if those upgrades arrive.