Leeds United will be making sales this summer and some long-time faces could be up for consideration depending how the window pans out
Ideally, Leeds United would like to keep hold of all of their key players – albeit Joel Piroe is clearly not one of them(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Leeds United are set to sell players as well as buy new faces this summer. That might sound obvious but the club yielded notably little in sales last year.
In fact, Rasmus Kristensen’s £7.7m package deal with Eintracht Frankfurt on the opening day of the window was the biggest fee they agreed. Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe has warned fans to expect some “outs” this summer.
While the new finance rules – which are set to leave Leeds slightly worse off in the short-term – plays into this, the mere need to free up space for new players is also a factor. The club are expected to go for higher-quality individuals this summer as opposed to squad bulking.
Of course, no player is out of bounds should a ludicrous offer arrive at Leeds’ door. But the aim is to keep the main core of the squad intact. That said, the outcome of contract negotiations and transfer offers may see a number of familiar faces exit Elland Road.
Below we identify nine who could do just that.
Wilfried Gnonto
With just three Premier League starts last season, Gnonto may be wondering where he fits into Farke’s long-term plans, especially if he sticks with his wing-back system. Freiburg have enquired about the Italian, who has a contract until 2028, but they will hardly be the last team to do so.
Joel Piroe
Piroe is the most likely senior player to leave, having started just two league games and none after August. Starved of game time with mere late-game cameo appearances, he is anticipated to say his goodbyes having been the subject of heavy interest in January.
Pascal Struijk
Ideally, Leeds do not lose Struijk and he pens a new deal. But if anticipated contract negotiations don’t go to plan, then the club could choose to sell and make a sizeable profit on the Dutchman – who had interest last year – amid the risk he walks away for nothing next summer.
Brenden Aaronson
Aaronson also has a year left on his deal, though there might not be the clamour to offer him a renewal. The American can speak to overseas clubs from January if a new contract is not penned, and he could leave for free in 2027, having cost nearly £25m upon arrival in 2022. A tough call.
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Joe Gelhardt
The striker ended the Championship season with 15 goals as he helped Hull City gain promotion to the Premier League. He wants to sign for the Tigers permanently. He will likely be sold by Leeds this summer, regardless, having initially wanted to do so last year.
Largie Ramazani
No buy-out clause was inserted into his loan deal at Valencia, with Leeds chiefs still seeing a future for him at Elland Road at the time. However, having dropped down Farke’s pecking order before his exit, and with Leeds now deploying wing-backs, he could possibly be one who gets moved on.
Jack Harrison
Fiorentina are not expected to trigger his £6m buy-out clause, but there is an expectation that Harrison will leave Elland Road this summer. His reintegration into the Leeds team failed and he eventually asked to leave in January amid sparse game time that doesn’t look bound to increase next term.
Max Wober
Leeds will inevitably try to sell the injury-stricken Wober, who has played just 12 games in two years due to various setbacks – but whether they can claw a fee above his book value of £2.4m is questionable. Another loan away is pointless given he has a year left on his deal, but for an obligation-to-buy agreement.
Isaac Schmidt
Schmidt might be peeping at a possible reintegration amid Farke’s wing-back system, but his stock has sunk following his loan spell at Werder Bremen. He was not trusted much in the Championship and if Leeds do bring in a back-up left-back as expected, his Leeds days look numbered.
Other less likely considerations
Leeds have a huge call to make in the goalkeeper department and – should United wish to look for a new goalkeeper – what happens with Karl Darlow’s contract talks could have a sway in what Leeds do with £13.9m signing Lucas Perri only a year after his arrival.
Should Leeds keep hold of Struijk and bring in another centre-half, it is feasible that Sebastiaan Bornauw could take up an opportunity elsewhere having only played a bit-part last season, aged 27. Though amid the back three switch, Farke might want depth at centre-half.
Lukas Nmecha only has 12 months left on his deal and this summer is the chance to make a profit on the free signing – albeit Leeds would, by de facto, not lose out should he leave for nothing next summer.
Ao Tanaka contemplated leaving in January and therefore could have his head turned should an appetising offer come in – though that could be said for any member of the squad, barring Ethan Ampadu and his shiny new contract.
Of course, the more players that leave first, the less likely others will follow, given the obvious need for Leeds not to leave themselves too thin.
One player who will not be leaving and might have otherwise been a consideration is Mateo Joseph , who will be undergoing rehabilitation for his anterior cruciate ligament injury back at Leeds following his loan spell at Mallorca.
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