Leeds United are aiming to secure automatic promotion going into the remaining eight games of the Championship season, but it is important to give them credit for recovering from last season’s playoff final defeat. Leeds could have easily fallen away but they stood up, recruited smartly to offset the loss of three important players and are again in the mix for promotion at the business end of the campaign.
The Whites are confident that the squad will get them over the line this time around and an easier run-in is being seen as a real advantage for Leeds United.
However, Leeds are in this position because the board didn’t panic last summer and persevered with manager Daniel Farke who played a big part in reconstructing the squad.
Almost every player who Leeds signed last summer has more or less made an impact on the team and played a key part in ensuring Leeds are favourites to get promoted at his fag end of the Championship season.
A look at the players who joined the club last year would show the recruitment team did a brilliant job and didn’t miss the mark with the ones they identified last summer.
Largie Ramazani – Leeds United still need more but he has done okay – 6/10
Ramazani was brought in for a considerable fee of around £10m but he has struggled to displace Daniel James who has been one of the standout performers in the right wing. However, he has done well in the limited opportunities and could still have a future at the club.
Jayden Bogle – One of the players of the season for Leeds United – 8/10
The former Sheffield United man has been the epitome of consistency for Leeds this season and has been the best right-back in the Championship. He has provided both defensive security and attacking thrust from the full-back position.
Ao Tanaka – The superstar Leeds United unearthed – 9.5/10
The Japanese midfielder has been the player of the season at Leeds and probably the best midfielder in the Championship. Leeds should probably promote the scout who identified him as a target last summer and helped them to sign him for a paltry fee of £3m.
Isaac Schmidt – Leeds are yet to see him but there is a player there – 4/10
Schmidt has played 25 minutes of Championship football and the last of his seven substitute appearances in the league came on 27th December. Leeds fans have barely watched him play but his performance for Switzerland this month shows he is probably not a complete dud.
Can you name the Leeds game these 10 goal celebrations are from?
Manor Solomon – Recent form aside, he has been superb – 7/10
Solomon’s recent form has been patchy but he has also been one of the players who have been key in taking the team to his stage. He broke into the starting eleven in December and has been so good, that Leeds have already decided to try and sign him on a permanent deal if they get promoted.
Joe Rothwell – An experienced hand who has done what Leeds required of him – 7/10
Signed from Bournemouth on loan last summer, the midfielder has added poise, class and experience to the Leeds team. He has won games with his set-piece deliveries and there is now a real debate on whether the club should sign him on a permanent deal if they get promoted.
Josuha Guilavogui – A rare dud – 3/10
The 34-year-old was brought in as an emergency signing in the middle of the season when Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev sustained injuries. However, he has played just 51 minutes of football across 13 Championship appearances as a substitute and has done nothing special. He is unlikely to be offered a new deal once his contract expires at the end of the season.
