Leeds United are preparing for the opening game of their Premier League season against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday.
They have signed four new players ahead of the start of the new campaign and hope to add a few more fresh faces before the transfer window closes on September 1.
29-year-old centre-back Nico Elvedi became the latest summer signing for Leeds this week when he completed a £8.5m move from Borussia Monchengladbach.
However, Harry Wilson, Leeds’ first signing of the summer, could prove to be one of the bargains of the window, especially after a recent major deal that has surprised every expert in the market.
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Harry Wilson is an example of the 49ers’ transfer masterclass
Leeds wanted to sign Harry Wilson last summer but had to wait another year before finally getting their man on a free transfer this summer.
He decided against signing a new deal with Fulham after a stellar season when he scored 10 goals and registered seven assists in 36 Premier League appearances.
Leeds have signed a Premier League-proven forward on a free transfer, and the deal looks even better in the context of what’s happening around in the Premier League this summer.
49ers’ work in the transfer market looks even more glowing after what Tottenham just spent to sign a forward this week.
Spurs have agreed to pay a fee of £75m and another £10m in add-ons to sign Manchester City winger Savinho in the ongoing transfer window.
Manchester City paid around £30m for the Brazilian in 2024, and in two seasons at the Etihad, he scored seven goals and registered 16 assists.
He scored just once in 24 Premier League appearances last season and is now set to join Spurs for a deal worth up to £85m.
The Brazilian may turn out to be a brilliant player for Spurs in the coming season, but there is no evidence right now to suggest that he is worth £85m.
On the other hand, the 49ers secured a deal to sign a winger on a free transfer who had 17 goals and assists in the Premier League for a team that finished in the bottom half last season.
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What is Leeds United’s plan for the rest of the window?
While Daniel Farke would like to add more creativity to his squad, Leeds United have more pressing issues to address before they can turn their attention to another versatile attacker.
Joel Piroe’s departure means the Whites now need to bring in a genuine number nine who can play alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin or step in for him when required.
Alex Cairns also showed against Manchester United why Leeds need a more reliable number two for James Trafford. The club cannot afford to be left exposed if their first-choice goalkeeper is unavailable.
Gabriel Gudmundsson’s injury has highlighted another weakness in the squad, with Leeds lacking a natural replacement for the Sweden international.
The Whites cannot keep relying on James Justin to cover different positions across the backline, so bringing in a proper back-up left-back should also be high on Farke’s list of priorities.
