Leeds United defied expectations last season by comfortably surviving in their first year back in the Premier League and finished 14th in the league table.
Paraag Marathe has conceded that the second season is always going to be more difficult, and Leeds are still in the market for more new signings this summer.
However, they have already done encouraging business by signing Harry Wilson on a free transfer and paying a fee of £34m to sign Tarik Muharemovic from Sassuolo.
Leeds are also closing in on a deal to sign James Trafford as they shape up nicely for the start of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.
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The Whites backed boldly in a stunning Premier League prediction
CBS Sports analyst Michael Lahoud has spoken highly of Leeds United this summer, admitting he has been impressed by the work Daniel Farke has done at Elland Road.
He also praised Leeds’ recruitment, insisting Harry Wilson’s arrival on a free transfer could prove to be an inspired piece of business for the Whites.
Lahoud believes that what Leeds did at the back end of last season to beat teams who will be playing in Europe next year shows how good they were towards the end of the campaign.
He boldly backed Leeds to finish eighth in the Premier League and qualify for European football.
“I am going with Leeds United”, Lahoud said on CBS Sports.
“I am a big fan of what Daniel Farke is doing with Leeds; switching to the back three has been a revelation, and Brenden Aaronson is thriving under Farke.
“I have loved what they have done in the transfer window; bringing in Harry Wilson is a gem of a transfer.
“When you see where they finished last season – 14th in the table, but what they did in the back end, in the last two to three months, was the stuff of dreams.
“They went to Old Trafford and beat Michael Carrick’s Manchester United, for the first time since 1981.
“They went to Bournemouth, which was a difficult place under Andoni Iraola, and they drew.
“And they beat a Brighton side that ended up qualifying for Europe.
“I think they can end up being this season’s Brentford and finish in eighth place.
“That’s the ceiling for Leeds United.”
Leeds still need to improve their squad
The Whites have done decent business this summer. However, they need more to feel they can improve on last season’s 14th-place finish.
Leeds are set to sign James Trafford on a club-record deal, but need one more goalkeeper to offset the impending loss of Lucas Perri this summer.
The Whites are also keen to strengthen in attacking midfield to add more creativity to the squad, while another striker is high on the agenda to ease the goalscoring burden on Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Leeds also need a left-back cover, which has been highlighted even more by the recent injury to Gabriel Gudmundsson.
What LUFC don’t need at this moment in time is unnecessary speculation by ‘journalists’ looking for a sensational headline … simply clickbait, and yes, I clicked. Fool me.