Daniel Farke is preparing Leeds United’s summer transfer signings.

After two requirements were met, Leeds United is allegedly becoming more confident that they may acquire Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff this summer. However, a second transfer has already fallen through, giving Daniel Farke a lot of work to do this summer.

Since the beginning of the season, the Whites have been playing brilliantly. They have won 12 of their 13 Championship games, rising to the top of the standings and assisting Leicester in erasing a 17-point deficit. There are eight games left for Leeds United to guarantee their spot back in the Premier League, and the team’s spirits were better than ever heading into the March international break.

 

Even if they are in control of their destiny currently, it is far from assured because the Foxes are levelling the score and have a game coming up, while Ipswich, who are a point behind, have proven to be tough opponents and are still very much in the running for promotion after winning seven of their previous eight games.

With what is expected to be a record number of points and the kind of performance that, in a “normal” season, would normally guarantee the title, let alone promotion, one of those three appears destined to miss out on promotion.

But in the background, the Whites are beginning to think about the summer window and what that might entail if they are, once again, a Premier League team. They haven’t made any public announcements, preferring to stick to the tried-and-true mantra of “taking it one game at a time.”

Leeds told signing of Newcastle star ticks lots of boxes

Leeds has already started the process of moving those wheels, as per rumours from earlier this week, by designating Newcastle midfielder Longstaff as a possible transfer option should they decide to book a return to the Premier League.

The 26-year-old midfield player’s contract at St. James’ Park is about to expire, and negotiations to extend it have not yet resulted in a mutually acceptable arrangement. Therefore, if the two sides are unable to agree on terms, it is alleged that the player would be moved on.

As a result, it’s said that Newcastle would only want for £15 million for the indigenous talent, with Leeds being the team that wants to sign him.

It is now being reported that the deal will go through if Leeds are promoted back to the Premier League and if the Magpies are unable to come to an agreement with him on a new contract before the summer transfer window opens for business.

In an interview with Football League World, former Leeds midfielder Carlton Palmer expressed his support for the proposed transfer, saying the Whites would be acquiring a “very, very good player” if they were able to sign Longstaff.

“He’s only got a year left on his contract, so this would be a very, very good signing. The 26-year-old has played 135 Premier League games, and he would be a good addition for Leeds United,” Palmer said.

“It has been reported that Newcastle would want a fee of around £15m and that would fall into Leeds’ budget.

“This is what you’ve got to do, and Daniel Farke is doing exactly what a manager should be doing now. I think Leeds have a great chance of going up, so you have to be looking at players. You don’t want to be doing business late, you want to get the players in, because it’s already tough enough for Championship clubs to remain in the Premier League when they get promoted.”

 

Bundesliga deal collapses for Leeds

“This would be a terrific signing for Leeds, a really strong signing for the football club,” Palmer said in closing. Reaching the Premier League is one thing, but remaining there is quite another.

Leeds, meanwhile, will have to make a lot of important choices this summer with their plethora of loan players that moved temporarily last summer.

After relegation, in fact, a total of thirteen players left Elland Road, many of them taking advantage of contract terms to go on loan.

Farke and director of football Nick Hammond will also need to make some important decisions regarding the composition of Leeds’ team for the 2024–2025 season, regardless of whatever level the team is in the following year.

Max Wober, who has been on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach for the current season, is one of those players who is now expected to return.

The Bundesliga team does not have the option to extend the contract for the left-sided defender, but it appears Leeds is ready to let him go for about €12 million, or £10.3 million.

But they’ve already decided that’s too much, and they’ve told the player he has to go back to his original club unless the Whites drop their demands.

Journalist Ben Jacobs, who anticipates the player returning to Leeds prior to the start of the new campaign, also appears to have corroborated that information.

“Leeds have a lot of incentive to focus on football and get back into the Premier League,” Jacobs told Givemesport. “Then, the strategy will be more apparent.

“As far as Wober is concerned, with no option for Monchengladbach to buy, and if Leeds were to sell, them wanting, at minimum, their money back, and probably a little bit more, it’s not going to be in the German club’s financial capability to make that permanent offer.

“So, the expectation is that he’ll return to Leeds, and by the time he comes back, it’ll be clear whether Leeds will be in the Championship or Premier League. At that point, we’ll know a whole lot more.”

 

Farke left with big transfer decision to make

Leeds will probably have some headaches upon his return because of the strong feelings that the fans have for the players who left the team after being relegated.

Particularly bitter was Wober’s departure—the player had only joined from RB Salzburg in January and had at first declared his intention to stay.However, Wober may find an opportunity in the Leeds squad for the upcoming campaign, since Liam Cooper is anticipated to leave after his contract expires. He is a decent option to call upon because he can cover at left-back as well.

It remains to be seen, though, if Farke will overlook the Austrian’s choice to quit on the eve of the Championship season, given the talent Jesse Marsch brought in.

These days, not much can be purchased with the £10 million Leeds are requesting, and if he departed, Leeds could need to find another player to replace Cooper in their lineup.