Leeds United sit 15th in the Premier League table, four points clear of the relegation zone as they push to secure Premier League safety this season.
The Whites are far from safe in the Premier League, and there are growing worries that Leeds could get dragged into the relegation quagmire in the last seven league games of the season.
Leeds are already planning for the summer transfer window and are optimistic that their recruitment will be geared towards building a Premier League squad.
Leeds have a few clear ideas about the next transfer window, and they are interested in bringing in someone who can take the squad to the next level.
The Whites are looking for their own Granit Xhaka
Former Premier League scout Mick Brown has claimed that Leeds want to sign a big-name player like Sunderland did when they signed Granit Xhaka last summer, who will take them to the next level.
He pointed out that Leeds have several solid and dependable players, but none of them will improve another Premier League team at the moment.
Leeds want their own marquee name who can come in and take the squad to the next level with his quality and presence in the middle.
“Leeds have a very good and solid squad at the moment”, Brown told Football Insider.
“But they haven’t got any individual players who you’d say could go to a team higher up the Premier League and improve them.
“Look through their squad player by player, they don’t have an outstanding name where you think, he’s going to be the one who makes or breaks their season.
“A lot of their recruitment has been focused on signing solid and dependable players, but they now want to take that next step and keep pushing forward.
“The likes of Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu are reliable and solid Premier League players, and they’re the ones who Leeds will look to build around.
“But really, they want to bring in a real talismanic player, a big name who can come in and make a real difference to push them higher up the table.
“Sunderland went and got Granit Xhaka, look at the difference he’s made there with his experience, quality and leadership.
“Bruno Guimaraes as well at Newcastle, he took them from a good mid-table Premier League side to one that is now regularly challenging for Europe.
“That’s the type of player Leeds want, somebody like that to come in and make a real difference.”
The 49ers have ambitious plans
Leeds are focused on survival, and the owners are aware of the importance of staying up in the Premier League to realise their goals.
They are working to expand Elland Road’s capacity and plan to take the club’s valuation to 1 billion pounds in the coming years.
The 49ers have ambitious plans and want to bring in upgrades to the squad in the summer, including a striker better than Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Their interest in an Xhaka-like figure shows that the owners are not content with just survival and want Leeds to move to the next level if they stay up.
However, everything will depend on Leeds getting enough points to survive in the Premier League this season.
unless the recruitment team is changed Leeds will be scouting for free transfers still while potential targets are snapped up by other clubs