After sixteen excruciating years, Leeds United are back. Whilst the lack of European nights and mixing it with the best very in England has been sorely missed, another painful factor in Leeds’ demise has been the loss of academy talent throughout the years.
Here, VAVEL examines some of the more successful Leeds academy graduates who could take the step back to join their boyhood club now they have regained their Premier League status.
1. James Milner
Three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, one FIFA Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, and one Community Shield; not bad for the teen that made his debut for his boyhood club back in 2002.
Part of the Leeds side that suffered relegation to the second tier in 2004, the return of James Milner has often set Yorkshire tongues a wagging in recent years. The issue? Milner shows no signs of deteriorating.
Since his departure from the Whites, Milner has gone from strength to strength. Playing for some of the country’s biggest clubs in Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, and now Liverpool, Milner has endeared himself to fans across the nation. His 536 Premier League appearances (fifth most of all-time) and seven years representing England, have cemented the now veteran midfielder as one of the most consistent footballers of his generation.
Milner has made no secret of his affection for his former side, most recently congratulating the club on their promotion back to the Premier League. However, now at 34, time is running out for the once Leeds ball boy to return to Elland Road. As his career begins to wind down, the opportunity maybe too much for Milner to turn down - with maintaining Leeds Premier League status an exciting ‘last challenge’.
2. Fabian Delph
Though a slightly less impressive honours list to Milner, Fabian Delph has also found substantial success since leaving Elland Road in 2009.
The midfielder was in the Bradford City youth ranks but was snapped up by Leeds when he was just eleven years old, going on to make his debut for the club in the same season the club were relegated from the Championship in 2007.
Making just one appearance during Leeds’ first season in the third tier, Delph became the star-man in the 2008/09 season as Leeds lost out in the play-off semi-finals to Millwall. Gaining a reputation for tough tackles and sublime strikes, he was sold to Aston Villa for a fee thought to be around £6 million.
Delph overcame injuries to become a focal point of Villa’s Premier League side. He won the clubs Player of the Year award in 2014 before captaining the side in the FA Cup Final the following campaign.
Securing a move to the Premier League champions in Manchester City, Delph became an England regular whilst featuring sporadically under Pep Guardiola in a variety of positions.
Delph is currently applying his trade for Everton, though he is yet to contribute anything significant on Merseyside. Like Milner, Delph has often shown Leeds to still be in his heart, offering fans the ‘Leeds salute’ whilst on international duty at Elland Road in 2018 whilst also regarding not being at Leeds longer as one of his 'biggest regrets'.
With versatility an aspect deeply admired by Leeds gaffer Marcelo Bielsa, Delph could offer an interesting option if Leeds were to show interest; his lack of impact at Everton so far means the club will be likely to put up little fight if the Whites come sniffing this summer.
3. Lewis Cook
Another Leeds youth produce to be capped by England in recent years, Lewis Cook, unlike Delph and Milner, has his whole career ahead of him.
The central midfielder burst onto the scene at Elland Road back in 2014 and quickly established himself as a first team regular despite his young age. Amassing over eighty appearances in West Yorkshire, Cook moved onto AFC Bournemouth in 2016, with his assured performances doing enough to earn him an England call up in 2018.
However, Cook will be keen to add to his singular England Cap. With Bournemouth clinging onto the Premier League with very little chance of survival, the now twenty-three-year-old will be desperate to be playing topflight football next season.
Bielsa’s reputation for developing players will be a selling-point, whilst Cook’s performances for his former side will be fondly remembered by those at the club. In addition, it’s likely Leeds could secure his signature for little more than the £10 million they received for the player four years previous, the perfect deal all round?
Here's a 35-yard stunner that earnt him the clubs Goal of the Season award in 2016:
4. Danny Rose
Though never making a first team appearance for Leeds, Danny Rose spent two years at United between 2005 and 2007 before Tottenham Hotspur splashed out £1 million on the unproven teenager.
Rose needed several loan spells to be given a real chance at White Hart Lane, including stints at Watford, Peterborough United, Bristol City, and Sunderland. Finally cementing a place in the first team in 2013, Rose has since played over 150 times for the North London club- as well as pulling on the England jersey on 29 occasions.
More recently however, Rose has fallen out of favour with Spurs. The full-back found himself on loan at Newcastle United last season, making just nine league appearances for the Magpies.
Left back has been a problem position for Leeds for years now. This campaign has seen Bielsa chop and change his first choice; Barry Douglas, Stuart Dallas, and Gjanni Alioski have all occupied the spot this campaign, with Jack Harrison often asked to help out as well.
Rose sited a move back up north as reason behind his Newcastle loan and his experience in the top-flight could be vital to a recently promoted club. Now 30 and seemingly at a crossroads, a move back to West Yorkshire could resurrect Rose's career.