Leeds United are pushing to improve a squad that surpassed expectations in their first season back in the Premier League and finished 14th in the table.
Daniel Farke wants to see more ambition from the board and bring in upgrades for several areas of the squad as he seeks to take Leeds to the next level.
The Leeds recruitment team are already identified several targets, and the club are working on setting up deals that could be executed in the next couple of months.
However, Leeds are also mindful about holding on to their best players, and the club are now being urged to ensure that they do not mess around with the contract of Ethan Ampadu.
Aston Villa linked with Ethan Ampadu
Ampadu has a year left on his current contract at Leeds, and the club have an option to extend it by one more year to secure their investment in him.
The Leeds captain has been a revelation in the Premier League this season and has been their best player in the 2025/26 campaign.
He has been voted the club’s Player of the Year, and Leeds have been intending to start talks over a new deal with his representatives soon.
However, Aston Villa have already been linked with a move for him, and Stan Collymore would be delighted to see the midfielder move to Villa Park.
He recently insisted that Ampadu would not cost a huge sum and would be perfect for Villa, who are in the Champions League next season.
Leeds have been warned that they could lose the Welshman, and Jermain Beckford has claimed that it is vital that he is tied up on a new long-term contract soon.
He told Leeds Live: “It’s vital. You look at what he’s been able to achieve since he signed for the club. The steps he’s made to improve himself on a personal level, but also those around him. And that’s the sign of a true leader.
“He does dictate play by being vocal. Off the pitch, he leads by example. His work ethic, his work rate, his determination, his drive. The way he puts his body on the line, he’s not afraid to get kicked in the head.
“He’s the guy that everybody looks up to. He’s come on leaps and bounds since he first signed. The respect he gets all over the place is justified. For me, he has to be the first signing of the summer.”
Leeds need to act fast
Ethan Ampadu is still on the contract he joined Leeds in 2023, and while he would have got a pay rise following promotion, he still earns less than several players in the squad.
The Welshman is probably the most important player in the squad and is likely in the middle tier of wages in the club’s payroll, which makes more sense.
Leeds have an option to extend the deal by one more year, but Ampadu would know that a player of his calibre would earn more at another Premier League.
A Champions League club such as Villa would be able to triple his wages if he agrees to move to the Midlands in the summer.
Leeds must offer him a new and improved contract and not depend on the crutch of the option of another year in his current deal.
Ampadu should feel valued at a club where is the lynchpin of the team.
