Daniel Farke faces a make-or-break summer at the Leeds United helm as they look to make progress as a Premier League power
Leo Scienza could be a smart acquisition for Leeds following the Spygate scandal(Image: Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Leeds United are facing a whirlwind summer transfer window that’s expected to feature plenty of movement in and out of Elland Road. Daniel Farke led the club to Premier League safety with time to spare, but failure to act quickly in the off-season could result in further turmoil next term.
The Whites have a limited budget to operate with this summer and multiple positions in need of upgrades. However, there are a few assets at Elland Road who could be sold off in order to help free up funds for investment.
There’s still a little more than a fortnight until the summer transfer window officially opens but that doesn’t mean Leeds can’t lay the groundwork today. And Leeds Live has picked out a number of moves that could be made in the coming months to help ensure Farke’s next campaign is an easier ride than the last.
FOLLOW OUR LUFC FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest news, analysis and more on our Leeds United FB page
Backline reinforcements
Some of the greatest concerns at Leeds right now are located in the backline. While Farke’s side scored 49 goals (better than half the division) and had their fair share of high-scoring spectacles, their tally of 56 goals conceded was the fifth-worst record in the Premier League.
The highest-priority need in that regard is a new centre-back worthy of a spot in the starting XI. Leeds already have just three central defenders who are at that level in Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk, and the transition to a three-man defence has only heightened the necessity for more sufficient options, with Sebastiaan Bornauw linked with an exit.
The interest in Union Berlin’s Danilho Doekhi is well-founded at this stage, with the 27-year-old set to become a free agent. Competition from Saudi Arabia has been reported, however, and there’s a sense Leeds could fall behind other suitors the longer he’s left to mull his options.
Union Berlin defender Danilho Doekhi has been linked with Leeds in the past(Image: Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Doekhi is a former Netherlands under-21 international who progress from the academies of Ajax and Vitesse. What’s more, he really showed his penchant for goals this term as the 6’3″ star scored seven times in all competitions.
Speaking of free agents, Leeds would also be wise to keep tabs on Rico Henry‘s situation at Brentford, who could yet extend his stay by an additional 12 months. A Premier League-proven asset, Henry could provide valuable competition at left-back but may be out of Leeds’ scope amid links with the likes of Everton and Bayer Leverkusen.
Saints’ Swiss army knife and relegated poacher
Given the aforementioned shift in formation, there’s an increased desire to see Leeds prioritise creative midfielders with versatility in their locker. The team has relied heavily on its wing options in the past but there’s a sense the likes of Daniel James and Willy Gnonto could soon be deemed redundant.
Instead, the team would do well to target a playmaking midfielder who can also operate in those wide roles when needed. In that vein, Southampton’s Leo Scienza could be a smart pick-up for the right price.
Scienza, 27, had a sensational first season in English football, where he finished with seven goals and 10 assists in 37 Championship games. However, there’s a sentiment Southampton may be forced to accept certain players will want to leave in light of the Spygate scandal.
It’s believed the Brazilian attacker joined Southampton for around £8million last summer. There’s consternation over whether his Southampton contract does or doesn’t include a release clause, though it’s reported a fee of around £25m could be enough to get a deal done regardless.
Burnley’s Zian Flemming could prove a bargain striker pick-up after hitting double-digit goals in the Premier League last term(Image: PA)
Another striker wouldn’t go amiss at Elland Road, either, and Burnley’s Zian Flemming is another who may be too good for the Championship. Also a product of the Ajax academy, Flemming’s first Premier League campaign saw him produce 11 goals in 29 games, almost a third of Burnley’s overall tally (38).
Flemming joined the Clarets last summer for a £7m sum after spending the previous season on loan at Turf Moor. He’d be expected to fetch at least twice that fee if sold today but would still be well within Leeds’ budget.
International goalkeeper
Another target with previous links at Leeds, the club could do a lot worse than recruiting Shakhtar Donetsk’s Dmytro Riznyk between the posts. And to make matters better, it’s understood he would cost less than half of the fee paid for Lucas Perri last year.
Perri, 28, was the latest goalkeeper to fly off Leeds’ goalkeeper carousel almost as soon as he hopped on following a reported £15.6m move from Lyon. Instead, Farke placed his faith in the talents of Karl Darlow, who is poised to leave on a free transfer like Illan Meslier.
It’s therefore imperative Leeds sign fresh competition in goal. And three-cap Ukraine international Riznyk ticks a lot of boxes, primarily appealing thanks to his shot-stopping ability.
Riznyk broke the record for saves in a Champions League game when he made 15 stops against PSV in November 2024. He’s also the right age profile for a goalkeeper and is one of numerous stoppers from Ukraine impressing in recent years, alongside the likes of Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin and Anatoliy Trubin of Benfica.