A free agent could help Leeds United boss Daniel Farke address a new problem in the summer transfer window
05:00, 10 Jul 2026
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke
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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke could make another savvy signing in the summer transfer window(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Leeds United can continue their savvy transfer business by returning to the free agent market for John Stones. The club kick-started their summer with a masterstroke move for Harry Wilson, proving that not every marquee signing requires a hefty transfer fee.
Daniel Farke is looking to strengthen his Leeds side and improve on last season’s 14th-place finish. Club chairman Paraag Marathe recently discussed Leeds pursuing “a few moonshots” in the summer window.
Wilson certainly fits into that category, following his stellar season for Fulham. As does Leeds’ interest in Julian Brandt after the Germany international reached the end of his Borussia Dortmund contract.
This shrewd approach allows Farke’s side to step up their interest in more expensive targets, such as Southampton midfielder Shea Charles. However, the recent sale of Pascal Struijk to Brighton leaves the manager with a new problem to solve in defence.
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The Dutch centre-back was sold for an initial £18million after entering the final year of his contract. The club needed to finalise the deal before the end of June to comply with this year's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), further emphasising the importance of finding value for money in the transfer market.
John Stones is a six-time Premier League winner and would bring invaluable experience to Leeds’ squad. A return to Yorkshire could appeal to the Barnsley academy graduate, who could continue to play in the top-flight without relocating after spending the last decade with Manchester City.
The 32-year-old officially became a free agent while away at the World Cup and will be searching for a new club once the tournament is over. England boss Thomas Tuchel placed his faith in Stones despite the defender making just five league starts last term.
Remarkably, he was picked ahead of City’s Marc Guehi for the Three Lions’ first game against Croatia. The experienced centre-back recently demonstrated his enduring quality during England’s heroic round of 16 victory over Mexico.
John Stones of England
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John Stones is part of England's World Cup squad(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
While Stones continues to audition on the world stage, his lack of regular minutes poses a concern. Struijk started 33 league matches last season and Leeds would need to be able to depend on his replacement.
However, while Stones has endured injury problems, his limited game time does not paint the full picture. He found himself pushed down the pecking order as City prioritised forging a partnership between Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov, prompting Stones to enter the World Cup with a point to prove.
“I was fit enough 100 per cent, it comes down to various things, the manager (Guardiola) and that’s something I can’t control and I think it’s always difficult to pick an XI and I say to this to him,” he explained.
“He knows how much I wanted to play, how much I wanted to be there and you can look at it in so many ways. I think I feel as good as I’ve ever been before a tournament. Yeah, ready, ready to go, feel great, feel sharp and feel fresh and excited for it.”
Struijk was a cornerstone of Leeds’ backline and replacing him with Stones would be a risk, but taking the gamble could reap rewards for Farke’s team.
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