Leeds United are allegedly confident they will be able to acquire Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff this summer if two criteria are met – but a second transfer has already fallen through, leaving Daniel Farke with a significant summer issue.
The Whites have been in scintillating form since the turn of the year, winning 12 of their 13 Championship games to climb to the top of the league and erase a 17-point deficit to runaway leaders Leicester. With the mood in the Leeds United camp better than ever before the March international break, the West Yorkshire club now has eight games left to seal their place back in the Premier League.
However, their fate, while now in their own hands, is far from certain, with the Foxes level pegging and having a game in hand, and Ipswich – just a point further back – having proven dogged competitors and remaining very much in the promotion mix themselves, having won seven of their last eight games as well.
As it stands, one of those three appears to be out of promotion with what is sure to be a record points tally and the type of figure that, in a ‘normal’ season, would generally ensure the title, much less promotion.
While they haven’t said anything in public, instead sticking to the tried-and-true mantra of taking things one game at a time, the Whites are now turning their attention to the summer window and what it might look like if they are once again promoted to the Premier League.
Leeds said the signing of Newcastle’s star satisfies several boxes.
According to reports earlier this week, Leeds have already set the wheels in motion by naming Newcastle midfielder Longstaff as a prospective transfer target if they do return to the Premier League.
The 26-year-old midfielder is due to enter the final year of his contract at St James’ Park, and talks over an extension have yet to be resolved. As a result, it is said that if the two parties cannot reach an agreement, the player will be released.
To that end, Newcastle are said to be seeking only £15 million for the homegrown talent, with Leeds leading the pursuit for his signature.
According to reports, the move will go ahead if Leeds is promoted back to the Premier League and the Magpies are unable to agree on a new contract with him before the summer transfer window begins.
Former Leeds midfielder Carlton Palmer has also shown his support for the potential move, telling Football League World that if the Whites can acquire Longstaff, they will be getting a “very, very good player”.
“He has only one year left on his deal, so this would be an excellent signing. “The 26-year-old has played 135 Premier League games and would be an excellent addition to Leeds United,” Palmer stated.
“It has been suggested that Newcastle would seek a sum of roughly £15 million, which would be within Leeds’ budget.
“This is what you have to do, and Daniel Farke is doing everything a manager should be doing right now. I believe Leeds have a good chance of winning promotion, thus you must consider players. You don’t want to do business late; you want to get the players in, because it’s already difficult for Championship clubs to stay in the Premier League after promotion.”
Leeds’ Bundesliga agreement falls through.
Palmer continued, “This would be a fantastic signing for Leeds, a very strong signing for the football club.” It’s one thing to get into the Premier League; it’s another to stay there.”
Meanwhile, Leeds will have to make a number of major decisions this summer over their influx of loan players who arrived on a temporary basis last summer.
Indeed, 13 players left Elland Road following relegation, with several of them taking use of contract terms to move on loan.
And, regardless of which league Leeds plays in next season, Farke and director of football Nick Hammond will have to make some major decisions about the composition of their squad for the 2024/25 campaign.
Max Wober, who has been on loan with Borussia Monchengladbach this season, is one of those players who will be returning.
The Bundesliga club does not have the option of making the agreement for the left-sided defender permanent, but it appears Leeds are willing to sell for roughly €12 million (£10.3 million).
However, it has already been deemed too high for them, and the player has been notified that he will return to his original club unless the Whites decrease their expectations.
Journalist Ben Jacobs appears to have corroborated the news as well, predicting that the player will return to Leeds ahead of the new season.
“Leeds have a lot of incentive to focus on football and get back into the Premier League,” Jacobs told Givemesport. “Then the strategy will become more evident.
“As far as Wober is concerned, with no option for Monchengladbach to buy, and if Leeds were to sell, they would want at least their money back, if not more, the German club would not be able to make that permanent offer.
“So, the anticipation is that he’ll return to Leeds, and by then, it’ll be obvious whether Leeds is in the Championship or the Premier League. At that moment, we’ll know so much more.”
Farke left with a major transfer decision to make.
His return is expected to cause problems for Leeds, given there is a lot of anger among fans towards the players who left after relegation.
Wober’s departure, in particular, left a bad taste, despite the fact that the player had only joined in January from RB Salzburg and had earlier expressed his commitment to staying.
However, with Liam Cooper due to leave the club at the end of his contract, Wober could find a place in the Leeds team next season. Given his ability to cover at left-back, he is a viable candidate to consider.
However, with the player brought in by Jesse Marsch, it is unclear whether Farke will forgive and forget the Austrian for his choice to leave on the eve of the championship season.
The £10 million cost Leeds is seeking does not buy much these days, and if he leaves, Leeds will most likely need to replace Cooper in their team anyhow.
