Following Leeds United’s 2-1 win over Sunderland on Monday, Jeff Stelling and Troy Deeney discussed what the club would need in the Premier League next season.
In their Championship battle against Regis Le Bris’ men on February 17, the Whites scored in the 95th minute, putting them seven points ahead of third place.
Daniel Farke’s side has solidified their position at the top ahead of the critical Sheffield United match, and the dramatic victory over the Mackems could not have come at a better moment.
In response to the stunning win, Deeney and Stelling have offered their thoughts on what the West Yorkshire club would require if they are promoted this season.
Leeds United should gain Championship promotion this season.
Leeds have been one of the most dominant forces in the second tier this season, and it’s difficult to see how anyone can stop them from finishing in one of the top two positions.
Last term, they fell just short of gaining immediate promotion to the top flight when Ipswich and Leicester pipped them to it with massive point totals.
Despite Pascal Struijk’s 95th-minute goal after coming on in the 71st minute, Deeney and Stelling believe the Whites need more firepower if they want to stay in the Premier League next season.
“Let’s not puncture their balloon, but I think if they go up, they’re going to need a lot of reinforcing,” Stelling remarked live on talkSPORT on February 18, 06:09am.
“One thing in their favour is Elland Road, it’s a bear pit.”
To which Deeney responded: “Absolutely, obviously playing there you appreciate just how loud that can be; I think at times when we played there with Watford when we were both pushing to get up, it was a question of trying to turn the crowd on them as early as possible.
“I worked the playoff final last year when I thought they had the better squad in terms of individual quality. I thought they went missing at times, which wasn’t a good sign, and this year, they’ve bounced back and done really well, but if they’re going to make the leap into the big league, they’ll need reinforcements.
“This season, they’re having a great season and they’ll probably go up.”
Daniel Farke should keep Leeds United on pace.
Nobody can deny that Leeds are the best team in the Championship; they should be, and they continue to prove it despite the pressure.
While their form in the league has been great, as Deeney and Steeling shared, it feels like they could still do with some further acquisitions, especially if they want to put up a decent fight in the Premier League.
One of Farke’s main difficulties in his team is the inconsistency of his number nines, which is perhaps why he was seeking to sign Cameron Archer or Adam Armstrong at the end of the winter transfer window.
And, while Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph have had some standout performances this season, it still feels like they could use a consistent goal-scorer to lead their line.
Other areas of Leeds’ team, such as left-back, could benefit from consideration, and if they do not put in enough effort in terms of recruitment this summer, they may find themselves relegated if they win promotion this season.
