Leeds United will kick off their Premier League campaign on Saturday when they travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest.
The Whites surprised plenty of doubters last season by securing their Premier League status with games to spare before finishing 14th in the table.
Avoiding relegation and establishing themselves as a Premier League club will remain the main objective this season, but Leeds will also be looking to take another step forward.
The club’s recruitment this summer has shown plenty of ambition, and the trip to the City Ground will provide an early test of how much progress Daniel Farke’s side have made.
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Paul Scholes drops verdict on Daniel Farke’s Leeds side
Leeds will be looking to build on last season’s 14th-place finish and improve both their league position and points tally in the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.
Daniel Farke has come a long way from being doubted as a Premier League manager to getting credit for building a stable environment behind the scenes.
Paul Scholes has reminded everyone that Leeds considered sacking the German following promotion last year, and insisted that he has done brilliantly.
He credited the Leeds manager for building a solid side ahead of the start of their 2026/27 Premier League campaign on Saturday.
Scholes said on The Fan Debate on The Overlap: “There was talk of him getting sacked, probably at the start of last season.
“I think he has done a brilliant job; I think he has built a really good team.”
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Can Leeds qualify for Europe?
European football should not be the target Leeds United set themselves for next season. The priority has to be establishing themselves in the Premier League and making sure they are nowhere near another relegation fight.
But there is no harm in dreaming. Leeds have shown plenty of ambition in the transfer market this summer and are expected to strengthen the squad further before the window closes.
With so many clubs around them spending heavily, even a top-half finish will be a tough ask. Leeds did, however, show plenty of character and resilience last season, and the squad is now stronger than it was 12 months ago.
If a few of the more established sides underperform and an opportunity presents itself, Leeds could find themselves pushing higher up the table. A top-eight finish could potentially be enough for European football, and the Whites will fancy their chances of taking advantage if the door opens.
