Leeds United beating Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Monday night has started the conversations over the Whites playing in the Premier League next season. There are still 12 games remaining this season but it would take a cataclysmic loss of form if the Whites do not earn automatic promotion in the coming months. The rumours around Leeds’ transfer activity in the summer are already doing the rounds, but more importantly, it is being widely speculated whether the Whites would be able to survive in their first season back in the top flight. Darren Bent has provided a reality check for the Leeds fans ahead of their expected return to the big time next season.
The 3-1 win over Sheffield United on Monday night has opened the floodgates about Leeds getting back to the Premier League at the end of the season.
The Whites still have 12 games left to play, but while their lead at the top is healthy, it is not insurmountable, and not many are now willing to bet against Leeds earning automatic promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season.
The talk of an impending promotion to the Premier League has also led to the worries about how Leeds would do in the top flight given the widening gulf between the top flight and the Premier League.
Some have argued that Leeds are a big club and should have a better chance of surviving in the Premier League than some of the teams that got recently promoted to the top flight.
However, the task of surviving in the Premier League would be tough and Darren Bent has already laid bare the challenge the Whites would face next season.
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The struggles of the three promoted teams from last season have laid bare the widening gap between the Championship and the Premier League.
Leicester City dominated the Championship last season but are almost certain to get relegated back to the second tier of English football this season.
In fact, the three promoted teams are now occupying the bottom three in the Premier League and it shows the challenge Leeds will face next season if they get promoted.
Bent stressed that it is hard to tell what Leeds would do if they get promoted but he is certain they are a big-enough club to attract a few good players in the summer.
However, the former striker insisted that at the moment they seem to be better than at least two of the three teams in the bottom three of the Premier League.
“What Leeds are doing right now, time will tell when they get back to the Premier League, are they equipped to deal with it?”, Bent said on talkSPORT.
“They are certainly a big side and they will certainly attract some good players.
“They are certainly better than two of the bottom three.”
The Premier League has never been tougher for newly-promoted teams
Leeds seem to be well on their way to securing automatic promotion to the Premier League and it is an exciting time for the fans who suffered the heartbreak of the playoff final defeat last season.
However, the performances of Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton are a major red herring for Leeds who will face a similar challenge next season.
Leeds would need to carry out a major overhaul of their squad and the harsh reality is that some of the players who would get them promoted would be deemed not good enough for the Premier League.
Can you name the Leeds game these 10 goal celebrations are from?
The Whites would need major backing in the transfer window from the owners if they want to build a squad good enough to survive in the top flight.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke will have to show a more pragmatic side next season as they can’t go toe-to-toe with the best in the Premier League, it would be calamitous if they do so.
The Whites are a big club and should attract good players if they are in the Premier League, but the top flight will test every sinew of the squad next season.
