Leeds United are under pressure in the automatic promotion race after dropping five points, which includes a defeat at Portsmouth, in their last two league games. However, Daniel Farke and his players are still backing themselves to get the job done and earn their right to be a Premier League team next season. Leeds are planning to carry out an overhaul of their squad in the summer but can’t make concrete moves until promotion is secured. However, key decisions are being made behind the scenes, such as the club deciding to make a move to sign Manor Solomon on a permanent deal in the summer. The Whites want to be ruthless in the summer and they need to maintain the same streak if they are to have a good window.
Solomon has been a big player for Leeds and will be important in the remaining ten games of the season if they are to get promoted to the Premier League.
Leeds United have informed Tottenham that they want to sign him on a permanent deal but they cannot start talks over an agreement until promotion is secured.
The winger could end up playing a massive role in him returning to Leeds in the summer given his performances could prove to be the key in getting them promoted to the Premier League.
It appears Leeds do not want to waste any time once promotion is secured and want to adopt a ruthless streak in making decisions over both incoming and outgoings.
Leeds will have several headaches to solve in the summer and the fans will hope that they show the same level of decisiveness on some of the more difficult calls they will have to take in the coming months.
Leeds United will have several tough decisions to make this summer
The best case scenario for Leeds would be to earn automatic promotion to the Premier League so that they could start planning for next season early.
Leeds would have money to spend if they get promoted, but everyone in the top flight spends big money, so they would not have any financial edge over other teams.
Therefore, Leeds would have to be smart with their plans and allocate their budget accordingly, as they would have a lot to do within limited resources.
Their swiftness in deciding on Solomon is noteworthy, but they will have to take such ruthless decisions on a few other players as well.
Farke and the recruitment team will have to decide quickly on whether they want to stick with Illan Meslier if they get promoted. A top goalkeeper like Caoimhin Kellher will be available next summer, and the Whites cannot afford to dither.
Leeds will also have to make a swift decision on whether Joe Rothwell is good enough to play in the Premier League. He has been good in the Championship but any move to sign him on a permanent deal would have to include an assessment of his ability to cut it in the top flight.
A similar call needs to be taken on forwards such as Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph as we have no idea whether they can make the step-up next season.
The Whites will also need to come to a decision on Patrick Bamford and maybe reach an agreement with the player to terminate his contract in the summer.
Leeds seem to have made their minds up about Junior Firpo, who is likely to move on in the summer with the club already lining up a replacement for him.
Leeds need to be nimble-footed in the summer
The summer transfer window will be a huge challenge for Leeds if they get promoted to the Premier League as overhauling a squad within a short span of time will be a big task.
And nothing short of an overhaul would do as the promoted teams from last season have shown this year that the gap between the Premier League and the Championship has only widened.
One summer is too small a time to build a squad fit for Premier League football, but that is exactly what Leeds need to do and they cannot afford to dither or mull over something for too long.
Can you name these past and present Leeds United players?
Leeds need to make swift and bold decisions on certain players who have been pivotal to getting them to this stage but might not be good enough to cut it in the Premier League.
The club cannot afford emotions or loyalty to dictate terms as cold hard facts need to be taken into account on the assessment of players for the top flight.
Fans could be divided on certain decisions such as the possibility of Kalvin Phillips returning to Elland Road but the club should have no time for hurt feelings.
