Leeds United are preparing for a hectic summer transfer window, with significant activity expected both in and out of Elland Road. Daniel Farke successfully guided the club to Premier League survival with time to spare, but failing to act swiftly in the off-season could plunge the club into further chaos next term.
Tight Budget and Key Targets
The Whites are working with a limited budget this summer and have several positions in need of reinforcement. However, there are valuable assets at Elland Road that could be sold to generate funds for new investment. With just over a fortnight before the summer transfer window officially opens, Leeds can still lay the groundwork now.
Leo Scienza: Creative Midfielder
Given the recent switch to a three-man defence, there is growing urgency to target creative midfielders who can operate in multiple roles. The side has relied heavily on wingers, but players like Daniel James and Willy Gnonto may soon be considered surplus to requirements. Instead, the club would be wise to pursue a playmaking midfielder who can also slot into wider positions. Southampton's Leo Scienza could represent shrewd business for the right sum.
Scienza, 27, enjoyed a spectacular debut campaign in English football, registering seven goals and 10 assists across 37 Championship outings. However, Southampton may be compelled to accept certain players will seek new pastures following the Spygate scandal. The Brazilian attacker arrived at Southampton for approximately £8 million after leaving Heidenheim last summer. While uncertainty surrounds whether his contract contains a release clause, reports suggest a figure around £25 million might be sufficient to secure his signature.
Zian Flemming: Prolific Striker
Another striker would not hurt at Elland Road, and Burnley's Zian Flemming is one who may be too talented for the Championship. Flemming's maiden Premier League season saw him register 11 goals in 29 appearances, accounting for almost a third of Burnley's overall haul of 38 goals. He joined the Clarets last summer for £7 million after spending the previous campaign on loan at Turf Moor. He would likely command at least double that figure if sold today, yet would still fall comfortably within Leeds' budget.
Defensive Reinforcements
Some of the most pressing concerns at Leeds lie at the back. While Farke's side netted 49 goals, better than half the Premier League, their tally of 56 goals conceded represented the fifth-worst record in the competition. The most pressing requirement is a new centre-back capable of commanding a place in the first XI. Leeds currently have just three central defenders of that calibre in Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, and Pascal Struijk, and the switch to a back three has amplified the need for more quality depth, particularly with Sebastiaan Bornauw linked with a departure.
Danilho Doekhi: Free Agent Centre-Back
The speculation surrounding Union Berlin's Danilho Doekhi is well justified, with the 27-year-old poised to become a free agent. However, reported interest from Saudi Arabia has emerged, and there is a concern that Leeds could lose ground to rival clubs the longer he weighs up his options. Doekhi is a former Netherlands under-21 international who came through the youth systems at Ajax and Vitesse. Moreover, he demonstrated his eye for goal this season, finding the net seven times across all competitions as a 6'3" defender.
Rico Henry: Left-Back Option
On the subject of free agents, Leeds would do well to monitor Rico Henry's circumstances at Brentford, where he could yet trigger a 12-month extension. A proven Premier League performer, Henry could offer solid competition at left-back but might be beyond Leeds' reach given reported links with clubs such as Everton and Bayer Leverkusen.
New Number One Goalkeeper
Another target with prior connections to Leeds, the club could do far worse than bringing in Shakhtar Donetsk's Dmytro Riznyk to man the goal. It is believed he would cost less than half the fee paid for Lucas Perri last year. Perri, 28, became the latest goalkeeper through Leeds' revolving door of shot-stoppers almost as quickly as he arrived, following a reported £15.6 million switch from Lyon. Instead, Farke opted to place his trust in Karl Darlow, who is set to depart on a free transfer alongside Illan Meslier.
It is therefore crucial that Leeds bring in fresh competition in goal. Three-cap Ukraine international Riznyk ticks plenty of boxes, with his shot-stopping ability being his most attractive quality. Riznyk broke the record for saves in a single Champions League fixture when he produced 15 stops against PSV in November 2024. He also fits the ideal age profile for a goalkeeper and is one of several Ukrainian stoppers making waves in recent years, joining the ranks of Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin and Benfica's Anatoliy Trubin.
