Leeds United are set for a return to the top flight two years after being relegated. Elland Road will host Premier League football again next season if all goes to plan.
With four games to go, the club are so close to locking in automatic promotion. Sheffield United’s slip up gave Daniel Farke’s side a huge upper hand. After the play-off final heartbreak last year, Leeds are set for redemption.
The last time Leeds United were promoted to the Premier League was back in 2020. After being promoted under Marcelo Bielsa, the club had a big transfer window before their first season back in the top flight. Rodrigo, Illan Meslier, Robin Koch, Raphinha and Diego Llorente were just some of the names that arrived that summer.
QUIZ: Can you name these past and present Leeds United players?
How Leeds United completed deal for €80M star
Credit: Imago Images
Leeds splashed the cash to boost their chances for survival. Players from top leagues and top clubs joined a newly-promoted club in the Premier League.
In the 2019/20 season, a young Raphinha ended his first campaign for Rennes with just five goals and three assists in Ligue 1. Just months after his first season, he moved to join Leeds United in England for a big fee. The Brazilian went on to have 17 goals and 12 assists in two seasons, which earned him a big money move to Barcelona. The 28-year old is now one of the best players in Europe and is valued around €80million by Transfermarkt.
Many fans will ask how Leeds had a player of such calibre at Elland Road just a few years ago. Marcelo Bielsa’s analyst and translator Andres Clavijo, explained how Raphinha arrived in England:
“I remember saying to him (Bielsa), ‘He is probably way out of our budget because I am sure they will not let him go for anything less than £30m after the season he has had.’ They had just bought him from Sporting the season before for around £20m.” he said to Sky Sports.
“But I think Marcelo then contacted Victor (Orta). Victor reached out to Rennes, and they said it was impossible, but it came about in the last couple of days of the window.
“It was crazy that we pulled that off. We could not believe our luck.”
Victor Orta pulled off a miracle
With how his last few years at Elland Road were maligned, a lot of Leeds United fans need to give Victor Orta his credit. He was also in charge where the club’s youth transfer policy produced Crysencio Summerville and Pascal Struijk.
Current fans will hope the current recruitment team can pull off something similar ahead of the Premier League next season. Speaking of transfers, Daniel Farke is reportedly eyeing this West Ham star this summer.
