Leeds United could capitalise on the teams they will be replacing in the Premier League to sign some talented players on the cheap in the summer transfer window.
The wild promotion parties and celebrations are now fading into hazy memory and preparations for next season will soon begin for Leeds United.
It’s going to be a slog to survive in the Premier League, with Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton all going straight back down despite spending millions in the transfer window.
It will take more than just spending for Leeds this summer as they must recruit wisely as well, with Daniel Farke making it clear the 49ers need to make ‘top-class’ decisions ahead of the new campaign.
The three relegated sides are among the worst teams ever to darken the Premier League’s door, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have talented players who could shine elsewhere.
Here are five relegated players Leeds should consider signing this summer to bolster Farke’s squad for the fight ahead.
Relegated Premier League players Leeds could sign on the cheap
Julio Enciso
Though on loan from Brighton, Julio Enciso went down with Ipswich after joining them for the rest of the season in January.
His arrival didn’t turn the club’s fortunes around, but he has still managed to impress in a struggling side. Enciso grabbed two goals and three assists in his 13 appearances, doing both in an unlikely 2-2 draw with Chelsea.
The Paraguayan clearly has talent and, at just 21, has plenty of room to grow while already showing he can be effective in the Premier League.
Leeds wanted Enciso in January themselves, so there is clearly interest there, and the versatile playmaker would be a great replacement for Brenden Aaronson.
Given he’s also entering the final year of his contract at Brighton, Leeds should revive their Enciso interest.
Kyle Walker-Peters
This deal makes so much sense that it’s almost a surprise it hasn’t already happened.
Leeds look resigned to losing Junior Firpo to a free transfer, though talks are ongoing, which will significantly weaken a position they already lack depth in. Sam Byram could still depart, too.
That would leave just Jayden Bogle and the largely overlooked Isaac Schmidt as Farke’s only full-back options, so both flanks of the defence need beefing up.
Kyle Walker-Peters would be the perfect signing to do just that, especially given that he will be available for nothing.
Walker-Peters is still just 28 but is vastly experienced at the top level with nearly 150 appearances, easily more than anyone else at Elland Road. Experience will be vital to survival.
Leeds have been in contact with Walker-Peters but face competition from Everton and Tottenham.
Kalvin Phillips
They say you should never go back but football just can’t help itself. You can have all the stats, data and form guides the modern game can provide, yet romance can never be suppressed completely.
Which leads us to Kalvin Phillips, who seems almost guaranteed to return to Leeds this summer. Whether it’s a good idea or not remains to be seen.
Phillips did enjoy some good performances this season on loan at Ipswich but he couldn’t help keep them up, missed large chunks of the campaign with injury and remains a shell of the player Leeds sold to Pep Guardiola in 2022.
Yet, could a return to home soil revive his career? Is a loan move a risk worth taking if he can get back to his best, which was so crucial to Leeds’ last incredible Premier League season?
The answer might be yes and Phillips seems to agree.
Facundo Bounanotte
A young, South American playmaker? Loaned out from Brighton? Impressing despite being a member of a terrible relegated side? No, this isn’t Julio Enciso of a few paragraphs ago, but Facundo Buonanotte.
The Argentine playmaking wizard looked like Brighton’s next great find when he was signed in January 2023 for £5.3m and immediately started putting in exciting performances.
Buonanotte was eventually overshadowed by Brighton’s array of more experienced talent and spent the season on loan at Leicester. Despite the Foxes being dreadful, Buonanotte contributed towards seven Premier League goals.
That’s 21.2% of Leicester’s 33 in total. If he had the same rate at Leeds this season, he’d have over 20 goal contributions.
A permanent move is unlikely, but a loan would certainly improve Farke’s attacking options.
Luke Thomas
While Walker-Peters would provide reliable back-up to both full-back positions, he wouldn’t be the best first choice to replace Firpo, given how crucial the Dominican was last season.
Farke likes his forwards narrow and his full-backs providing the width. That might change slightly next season to the defence being a bit more solid, but a natural left footer will be required either way.
Leicester City’s Luke Thomas could be a very capable option as a defender who can get forward but is more defensively-minded. At 23 and into the final year of his contract at the King Power, a lot is going in his favour.
Leeds tried to sign Thomas in 2023 but he opted to join Sheffield United instead.
Leeds United have lots of possible targets from relegated Premier League teams
All three of the relegated squads are bursting with talent when you see them written down, even if it hasn’t translated on the pitch for various reasons.
Though you wouldn’t want to sign a whole squad of relegated players, individual talent can still be found in the rubble of collapsed sides.
Wilfred Ndidi would be an even better midfield option than Phillips but his wages are thought to be astronomical.
His Leicester teammates Kasey McAtee, the released Jamie Vardy (who keeps getting linked), Abdul Fatawu and Farke’s well-liked Oliver Skipp, who he once called a ‘perfect signing’, could all be options as well.
Alex Palmer has proven to be a great goalkeeper for Ipswich, while Jack Clarke, Omari Hutchinson, Jacob Graves and Leif Davis have all shown flashes of top-flight quality this year.
Leeds certainly have plenty of options in the transfer window this summer.
