
The transfer market in 2025 is much different from when Leeds United were last promoted to the Premier League. Back then, the club was able to get some quality talent for regular fees.
In the summer of 2020, Leeds signed Rodrigo Moreno, Raphinha and Robin Koch among other players who helped the club survive their first season back in the Premier League. Not only did the Whites survive, they finished in the top half with a record of goals scored and points won by a promoted side.
Getting the likes of Rodrigo and Raphinha for decent transfer fees is something that would be almost impossible now, as Leeds will find out this summer.
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Leeds United target major free agent

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As a newly promoted club, your transfer targets are often limited. Either shop in the Championship, or from the recently relegated clubs. The other option is to find quality players among lesser known leagues in Europe, and even that does not bring guaranteed success.
Leeds are still interested in Bright Osayi-Samuel according to reports. The Whites have been tracking the Nigerian international since last summer when they tried to sign him for £7million. Osayi-Samuel will be available as a free agent when his contract expires this summer. The 27-year old has rejected multiple contract offers from his current club Fenerbahce according to Aksam. He has his eyes set on a return to England
Sources claim that Osayi-Samuel could demand a salary of £2.1million-a-year from his next club, with Leeds said to be interested.
Osayi-Samuel not worth the huge wages
As a player, Bright Osayi-Samuel’s quality is undeniable. But after the season he has had in Turkey, asking for such wages is not something Leeds need to be looking at. Over £40,000-a-week for a player with zero goals and zero assists in the Turkish league this campaign is not a justifiable outlay for a club like Leeds United. The club are better off looking elsewhere.
In other news, Junior Firpo has spoken out about his future at the club.
