Following a 14th-place finish in their first season back in the Premier League, Leeds United are already concentrating on their plans for the summer transfer window.
Daniel Farke has made no secret of the fact that he wants stronger backing from the board as he aims to improve the squad and push the club forward next season.
At the same time, Paraag Marathe has stressed the importance of remaining sensible with spending, particularly with the Premier League’s Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) regulations now having a significant impact on financial planning.
However, Leeds will also focus on trying to keep their best players at the club amid mounting pressure to raise funds through sales ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
Gabriel Gudmundsson tipped to attract ‘decent offers’
Leeds signed Gabriel Gudmundsson last summer as part of their squad overhaul, and he has turned out to be one of the signings of the season in the Premier League.
After an impressive debut season at Leeds United, he was ranked 26th by The Athletic among the 189 players signed by Premier League clubs across the last two transfer windows.
The leading football outlet also claimed that it won’t be a major surprise if the Swede is subject to a few decent offers from clubs in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Athletic wrote on their review of Gudmundsson’s first season at Leeds: “Hard to believe, given his attacking enthusiasm and ball-carrying ability, that he didn’t score [in the opposition net, there was one own-goal against Fulham in September] or provide an assist in the league.
“Great business for £10million, very dependable and will probably attract decent offers either this summer or next.”
Leeds have already said SCR will guide their transfer dealings
Following Farke’s demand for more ambition, the Leeds chairman provided a reality check and insisted that it would take three more seasons in the top flight for the Whites to behave like an established Premier League club.
Paraag Marathe also pointed to the Premier League’s Squad Cost Ratio rules, admitting they will play a major role in shaping how Leeds United approach their transfer business this summer.
There are already claims that Pascal Struijk could leave as Leeds look to raise funds through player sales in the coming months.
Several Premier League clubs are in the market for attacking full-backs, and Gudmundsson’s performances would not have gone unnoticed.
It is uncertain how Leeds would react if a Premier League club made a big offer for the Swede in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Farke would not want to sell him, but Gudmundsson has shown no indication that he would be open to jumping ship. However, the financial reality of the Premier League could lead tos strange decisions.
