Leeds United are well on their way to automatic promotion to the Premier League after scoring a big win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Monday. The Whites now look poised to play in the top flight of English football and the talk is now inevitably moving towards what they would need to do in the summer to have a squad good enough to survive in the Premier League next season. Leeds are expected to bring in quality for every area of their squad if they go up as they would need far better options to give themselves a decent chance of survival. Several players from the current squad are likely to be deemed surplus to requirements but there is one particular star Leeds would love to hold on to beyond the end of the season.
The Whites have a five-point lead at the summit of the Championship table and have a seven-point buffer over teams outside the automatic promotion spots.
The win over Sheffield United this week has more or less made it certain that they are likely to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season.
Leeds United would not want to tempt fate, but their fans could now start looking forward to the summer and the kind of business they would be conducting in the transfer window to improve the quality of their squad for the Premier League.
The Whites are almost certain to bring in a striker or two but the future of Manor Solomon at Elland Road would be a source of furious speculation over the next couple of months.
Leeds want to sign the winger on a permanent deal and there are also suggestions that the Whites will soon hold talks with Spurs over agreeing on a deal.
Leeds United should consider the ‘risk factor’ around signing Solomon – Former White
Tottenham are ready to cash-in on the winger following his impressive loan spell at Leeds this season and negotiations are expected to take place soon.
The north London club are expected to sell him for a fee in the region of £10m to £15m in the summer and he would be more than affordable for Leeds if they get promoted to the Premier League.
Former Leeds star Carlton Palmer conceded that the winger is having a good season but insisted that the club should consider the risk factor involving the player given his injury history.
He also insisted that Leeds need to decide whether at £10m to £15m is Solomon worth it since Leeds also need to bring in a striker. Palmer believes a decision should be made only at the end of the season.
“He has scored and assisted seven apiece in the Championship this season, only Dan James and (Joel) Piroe have more goal involvements for Leeds. He’s having a really good season”, Palmer told the Football League World.
“But there is a risk factor. He’s had a lot of injuries, that’s what curtailed his season with Tottenham in the Premier League. You’ve got to factor that in.
“The second thing to consider is if he is worth £10-15 million? They need to bring in a proven Premier League striker. £10-15 million isn’t a lot of money, but they have to be very careful with this because they want to stay in the Premier League, he is a quality player, he’s got to play regular football, he’s too good for the Championship as we’ve seen.
“I think it would be a good bit of business if he stays fit. At £10-15 million, it could be a really good bit of business.
“We’ll have to wait until the end of the season but I’m sure a striker is the priority for Farke.”
Solomon would be worth the gamble for Leeds
Solomon has made a big impact on Leeds’ season since breaking into the starting eleven in December when he replaced the underperforming Wilfried Gnonto.
He has combined brilliantly with the rest of the Leeds forward line to make the attack more threatening and penetrating over the last couple of months.
He did struggle with a few injuries when he initially joined Leeds on loan last summer, and his knee injury last season, which kept him out for the whole year, was a concern.
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However, the winger has provided a good account of his fitness over the last few months and his performances have continued to impress everyone at Leeds.
If Daniel Levy doesn’t resort to his typical Machiavellian tactics in the summer, and his price remains in the £10m to £15m range, he would be more than worth it for Leeds.
