Leeds United finds themselves in a promising position this weekend, with an opportunity to draw level on points with Leicester City and potentially even claim the top spot in the Championship table, depending on their goal-scoring performance against Millwall.
While the Foxes once held a commanding lead in the 2023/24 season, Daniel Farke and his team have steadily narrowed the gap as they set their sights on securing a top-two finish.
Currently, the Whites are well-placed to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League, riding a wave of success with an unbeaten streak of 12 Championship matches, 11 of which they’ve emerged victorious, including an emphatic 3-1 win over Leicester at home.
With promotion tantalizingly close, Leeds has begun laying the groundwork for an exciting summer transfer window, intensifying their search for reinforcements. Speculation abounds regarding potential departures from Elland Road, as well as the latest additions to Marcelo Bielsa’s squad.
The club’s transfer activity hinges largely on their promotion prospects, but with an opportunity to edge out Ipswich Town this weekend, Leeds is widely regarded as one of the frontrunners for automatic promotion.
Should the Whites secure their return to the Premier League, strengthening their squad with players boasting top-flight experience becomes imperative.
According to reports in the Sunday Mirror, Leeds is contemplating a move for Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff should they achieve promotion this season, having already agreed to personal terms with Tottenham Hotspur’s Joe Rodon, who has been on loan at the club.
Longstaff, whose contract is set to enter its final 12 months, is engaged in discussions over extending his stay with his childhood club. However, Leeds aims to seize the opportunity with a £15 million bid, seeking to secure the services of the 26-year-old before he commits to a new deal.
Despite enduring a brief ankle injury that sidelined him for just three Premier League matches this season, Longstaff has emerged as a pivotal figure under Eddie Howe’s stewardship.
With six goals and two assists across all competitions this season, his contributions have been instrumental to Newcastle’s campaign.
Reflecting on Longstaff’s potential to break into Gareth Southgate’s England squad, Howe expressed confidence in the midfielder’s abilities, affirming that he possesses the requisite qualities to earn international recognition.
“I think he’s got everything depending on what system you want to play but for us, he perfectly fits the No.8 role that we’re using him in. I’d love to see him score more goals and get in more goalscoring positions because I think he is a very good finisher – you saw the other night with a really good goal, so hopefully there’s more to come from him. But he’s certainly done very well at the start of this season,” remarked Howe in October.
Leeds United’s pursuit of Longstaff underscores their ambition to reinforce their squad with proven talent, as they gear up for a potential return to the Premier League and the challenges that lie ahead.