Leeds United have returned to the Premier League after a two-year hiatus from the top-flight, recording 100 points under German boss Daniel Farke – and now the gaffer must decide his strongest side in order to ensure survival.
Every promoted side needs to spend big to have any chance of remaining and breaking the mold in the biggest league in the world – and GIVEMESPORT takes a look at how the Yorkshire outfit should line up to best combat that.
Perri is New No.1 at Elland Road
Leeds have finally signed a goalkeeper! The nightmare that they had in the second half of last season has finally been banished, and it’s Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri who has come in between the sticks.
The Brazilian has joined to finally keep them tighter at the back, and he’s somewhat done that so far, with two home clean sheets against established Premier League outfits in Everton and Newcastle United, barring the 5-0 trouncing at Arsenal.
Karl Darlow, despite his mistake in the League Cup, will come to the substitutes bench – but spare a thought for Illan Meslier, who hasn’t found a new club this summer after some high-profile mistakes in the Championship.
Pascal Struijk Absent from Leeds Defence
If it wasn’t for Burnley having one of the meanest defences in the Championship last season, Leeds’ defensive record would have been lauded – and so it’s key to keep a couple of them at least in the backline.
Jayden Bogle is the de facto first-choice at right-back, and he’s had an impressive start to Premier League life, where he should keep his spot.
Jaka Bijol is their main option at centre-back after his move from Udinese added height and physicality to their backline, and although it’s harsh to drop Pascal Struijk, who earns £40,000-a-week, due to him being left-footed, Joe Rodon‘s Premier League experience means that the Whites star will take his usual spot in their defence.
And having seen Junior Firpo depart after his contract ran out, the club have added well with Gabriel Gudmundsson.
Experienced Midfield as Stach Adds Steel
Ethan Ampadu is a centre-back by trade, but with three strong options there, he will take his place in the holding role in midfield.
Anton Stach has impressed more than first thought going forward, and so he will get the nod in one of the more advanced roles, having been the club’s marquee signing from Hoffenheim over the summer.
New signing Sean Longstaff will come in over time, but Stach’s strong performances have seen him nail down a starting space – and last season’s Player’s Player of the Year, Ao Tanaka, will provide the magic spark from the centre of midfield.
New-Look Attack for Daniel Farke
Daniel James has Premier League pedigree, and after a superb campaign last time out, he’s already been chosen by Farke as the club’s out-and-out right-winger.
New signing Noah Okafor will play a huge part throughout the season, and although Wilfried Gnonto has a point to prove in the top-flight, the Swiss likely gets the nod on the opposite flank with Gnonto failing to make that count so far.
And talking about points to prove – Dominic Calvert-Lewin‘s move from Everton over the summer is huge for both the player and the club. If he can hit the ground running as he has done in the past at the Toffees, it could be a really astute signing for the Elland Road outfit, relegating Joel Piroe to the bench in the process.
Jack Harrison and Brendan Aaronson provide depth, but could easily find themselves not even in match-day squads this season.
Leeds strongest XI: Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Gudmundsson; Ampadu, Stach, Tanaka; James, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor.
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, James Justin, Pascal Struijk, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Ilia Gruev, Wilfried Gnonto, Joel Piroe, Sean Longstaff, Lukas Nmecha
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