Leeds United are involved in a three-way race to secure one of the two automatic promotion spots at the top of the Championship table. The Whites are leading the race but it is very tight at the top going into the final nine games of the campaign. Leeds have big plans for the summer transfer window but all that needs to wait until promotion is secured. Several players have already been identified as potential targets if Leeds get promoted to the Premier League, but now they could have an extra incentive to ensure one of their rivals doesn’t get promoted at the end of the season, as it could serve them well in the transfer market.
The 2-0 win over Millwall on Wednesday night was much needed after Leeds United dropped five points in their previous two league games against West Brom and Portsmouth respectively.
Leeds have a tough game on the road lined up on Saturday where they will take on Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road in an early kick-off in the Championship.
The Whites have lost on their last four trips to the London club but QPR are in poor form as well and Leeds have been backed to beat Marti Cifuentes’ side this weekend.
A win at Loftus Road, which would be their first at QPR since 2017, would further consolidate their position in the Championship standings going into the international.
Sheffield United are just two points behind Leeds in the race but it would be to the Whites’ advantage that Burnley stay outside the automatic promotion spots as well as losing out in the playoffs.
Leeds United want a player from Turf Moor, and they can’t afford Burnley to get promoted
Burnley signed Marcus Edwards on loan from Sporting Lisbon in the winter window, but it is well known that even Leeds had their eyes on him.
The Clarets beat Leeds to the winger’s signature and Edwards has already made an impact since joining Burnley, scoring and assisting one goal each.
Burnley have an obligation to buy the winger for a fee of £10m in the summer transfer window and according to Portuguese daily Record, Edwards is unlikely to return to Portugal at the end of the season.
The Clarets are keen to hold on to him and they are happy to sign the winger on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window.
However, a deal will hinge on Burnley getting promoted and this is where Leeds United could benefit at the end of the season.
If Burnley fail to achieve promotion, it will be difficult for them to convince Edwards to join them on a permanent deal for a £10m fee.
Leeds could jump into the mix and secure a deal to sign the winger from Sporting Lisbon by offering the winger a chance to play in the Premier League.
Edwards would be a smart acquisition for Leeds
A product of the Tottenham academy, the winger shone at the north London club before moving to Portugal with Vitoria Guimaraes in the summer of 2019.
He did enough at the smaller Portuguese club to earn a move to Sporting Lisbon where he impressed and caught the eye with his performances in Europe.
Can you name these 10 Leeds United players from the 2000s?
Burnley signed the winger in the winter window, but he has a real desire to play in the Premier League again after coming through the ranks at Spurs.
If Burnley fail to get promoted, Edwards would be happy to join a Premier League club to fulfil his desire to play in the English top flight again.
Leeds have an extra motivation to get promoted but also to ensure that Burnley do not make it. If the Clarets stay in the Championship, the Yorkshire giants have a real chance of landing a player they admire.
