Leeds United have several important decisions to make as the squad returns for pre-season ahead of another challenging Premier League campaign.
Several players are back at Elland Road after spending last season on loan, but their futures at the club remain far from clear.
Max Wober, Mateo Joseph, Joe Gelhardt and Largie Ramazani were all allowed to leave on temporary deals in the hope of getting regular first-team football. However, none of their loan clubs chose to make those moves permanent.
Each of them headed out in search of more game time, but with those spells failing to lead to permanent transfers, Leeds must now decide what comes next.
While strengthening the squad remains a priority, player sales will be just as important this summer. With the Premier League’s Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) regulations to consider, the Whites need to trim and reshape the squad carefully as they prepare for the new season.
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While Leeds United continue to work on strengthening Daniel Farke’s squad, the club are equally focused on moving several fringe players on before the transfer window closes.
Isaac Schmidt is one of those players. Leeds had hoped his loan spell at Werder Bremen last season would lead to a permanent exit, but the Swiss defender failed to do enough to convince the Bundesliga club to keep him.
Schmidt was notably absent from Leeds’ pre-season testing this week, with the club already working to secure his departure.
FC Basel and Young Boys have both been in talks with Leeds over a deal for the defender, with the two Swiss clubs keen to bring him back to his homeland this summer.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Leeds have approved the defender’s departure, and he has been sold to Young Boys.
He has completed a medical with the Swiss outfit and will permanently return to his homeland with his new club.
Leeds wanted to sell him rather than agree another loan deal, and are set to receive a fee of £2m from his departure.
Isaac Schmidt has left, but several more are also expected to leave
Isaac Schmidt is one of several players Leeds United are looking to move on this summer.
Largie Ramazani has returned for pre-season, but Valencia are still keen to bring him back following his loan spell and continue to explore a deal with Leeds.
Mateo Joseph’s situation is more complicated. A recent knee injury has cast doubt over any potential transfer, and there is an increasing feeling that he could still be at Elland Road once the window closes.
Joel Piroe is also expected to depart as Leeds continue their search for a new striker, although no interested club has yet entered advanced talks over a deal.
Wilfried Gnonto’s future also remains up in the air. Leeds are open to selling the Italy international, but only if a club is prepared to meet their valuation.
Get rid of players easy enough, we still need two Gk, Def, Mf and St, all we have is Wilson, not good, wait for the panic buys now?