Returning to the Premier League last term, the Whites quickly batted away claims of being relegation candidates as a mid-season switch to a back three massively changed their fortunes.
Daniel Farke devised a winning formula as they comfortably survived with a 14th-placed finish and only six points off the European spots, centred around the clinical goal-scoring exploits of talismanic forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Calls for Farke’s sacking following a tricky start to the season were soon forgotten about with an exhilarating brand of football which led Leeds to their first Emirates FA Cup semi-final since 1978.
Second-season syndrome has bitten many teams in the past, none more so than Leeds with their relegation in 2022 after a fabulous maiden campaign, with their transfer business indicating a focus on proven quality and experience to avoid history repeating itself.
The calibre of players signed by their divisional rivals meant Leeds couldn’t afford to stand still and further marquee additions may make a European finish an increasingly realistic prospect.
But how could they line up when they head to Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the season?
GK: James Trafford
The perfect example of addressing last season’s weaknesses, Trafford’s pending arrival for £40 million could prove to be excellent value for the future England number one. The 23-year-old was signed by Manchester City last summer to start but Gianluigi Donnarumma’s late arrival in the window saw Trafford fall down the pecking order.
Illan Meslier and Karl Darlow both left on free transfers while Lucas Perri struggled following his switch from Lyon, with the ex-Burnley shot-stopper snubbing the interest of Newcastle United to sign for the Whites.
RCB: Joe Rodon
The Wales international missed just three Premier League games last season and firmly asserted himself in the heart of the Leeds defence.
Question marks surrounding whether Rodon would be able to cut it in the top-flight, after struggling for minutes at Tottenham Hotspur a few years prior, were soon erased with his ability to drive forward with the ball from a deep position a key component of his game.
CB: Tarik Muharemovic
Pascal Struijk's switch to Brighton & Hove Albion forced Leeds into the market for centre-back reinforcements and the £34 million arrival of Muharemovic is certainly a shrewd replacement.
The 23-year-old shone for Bosnia & Herzegovina during the FIFA World Cup to help them reach the knockout stages for the first time in their history. Muharemovic shone for Sassuolo as they secured the Serie B title and has already caught the eye in Leeds’ pre-season tour in the USA.
LCB: Jaka Bijol
The switch away from a back four at half-time of a defeat to Manchester City at the end of November not only tightened Leeds up, but saw Bijol emerge as a key figure in retaining their Premier League status.
The Slovenian defender was repeatedly exposed at the start of the campaign but found a home for himself on the left-hand side of the back three with his aerial dominance proving valuable.
RWB: Jayden Bogle
An integral part of their mid-season revival who improved game after game, Bogle has nailed down the right-wing back position with 34 appearances to his name last term.
The ex-Derby County and Sheffield United man suited Farke’s intense pressing style down to a T with his ability to get up and down the right flank. Impressing in both boxes with five assists to his name, they are numbers which he will be looking to further improve upon this term.
CM: Ethan Ampadu
One of the first names on the teamsheet, tying the Welsh midfielder down to an extended contract in June will undeniably be one of the best pieces of business Leeds do this summer.
Ampadu has been a mainstay inthe side ever since touching down at Elland Road to lead their Championship promotion push in 2023 with his versatility across midfield and defence a vital asset. At 25, the former Chelsea youngster’s best years are still ahead of him.
CM: Anton Stach
The Mr Consistent of this Leeds team, the lack of minutes for Sean Longstaff and Ao Tanaka last season were a testament to the incredible consistency of Stach.
The German arrived from Hoffenheim last summer and was an instant hit, with his eye for goal being one of his key strengths thanks to his five goals and three assists in a defensive midfield position.
He formed a formidable partnership with Ampadu in the middle of the park and that is set to continue in the forthcoming campaign.
LWB: Gabriel Gudmundsson
Leeds’ full-backs posed a significant attacking threat and a summer of recuperation for Gudmundsson will mean he is back fit and firing come the Premier League curtain-raiser.
The 27-year-old is holding down the left-wing back berth ahead of James Justin who is also vying for a first-team spot, although a fully fit former will play an influential role in Farke’s system.
CAM: Harry Wilson
Their first summer addition was a huge coup by adding the proven Premier League quality of Wilson to their ranks while taking him off Fulham on a free transfer.
The Welsh playmaker enjoyed his best spell in west London last term, notching ten goals and registering seven assists, as he established himself as one of the best technicians in the division. He will slot in seamlessly in West Yorkshire with his ability to put up consistent numbers improving on the likes of Noah Okafor and Brenden Aaronson currently in that position.
CAM: Julian Brandt
A man who Leeds have been on the hunt for all summer and are edging closer to securing his services, the creative presence of Wilson alongside Brandt could be a frightening prospect.
The former Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder has regularly put up impressive numbers in the Bundesliga with 19 goals and 25 assists to his name in the past three seasons. While his wages certainly won’t be cheap, he would be the perfect dynamic link between the midfield and attack.
ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
His arrival at Elland Road last summer was met with scepticism after an injury-hit couple of seasons at Everton but Leeds would have been in serious trouble without Calvert-Lewin’s 14 Premier League strikes.
The frontman shone with his hold-up play and led the press admirably with the drop-off in quality to Joel Piroe and Wilfried Gnonto seismic when he missed a handful of games due to injury.
Links to Chelsea forward Liam Delap would only add competition for the starting striker role, yet the 12-time England international firmly has his grasp on that position at present.
