There’s a massive job forward for Daniel Farke and the recruitment staff at Leeds United after the 2024/25 season ended with promotion to the Premier League.
The Whites lifted the Championship trophy at House Park after they beat Plymouth Argyle 2-1 on the ultimate day of the marketing campaign, due to a last-gasp winner from Manor Solomon.
They ended the season with a staggering 100 factors on the board, beating Burnley to the title on purpose distinction, and may now put together to play within the top-flight subsequent time period.
The three newly-promoted golf equipment have all been relegated from the Premier League in every of the final two seasons, which paints an image of how troublesome it will be for Leeds, and Burnley, subsequent time period.
They might want to nail their recruitment to construct a squad that’s able to following within the footsteps of the six groups which have fallen earlier than them, which makes the summer season switch window completely important.
Leeds have to land top-quality gamers who can are available to make an instantaneous affect within the first-team, as they did once they as soon as splashed the money on Rio Ferdinand.
Why Rio Ferdinand was an amazing signing for Leeds
Again in November 2000, the Whites swooped to signal the England worldwide from West Ham United for a reported price of £18m, which was a British document price on the time.
Though Ferdinand was solely 22 on the time of the transfer, Leeds knew that they have been signing a top quality operator on the coronary heart of the defence as a result of he had already performed 155 instances for the Hammers of their first-team.
The English colossus made 32 appearances in all competitions throughout his first season at Elland Highway, together with seven within the Champions League, earlier than he hit his stride in his second 12 months in West Yorkshire.
Ferdinand went on to play 41 instances in all competitions within the 2001/02 marketing campaign and was named within the PFA Crew of the 12 months within the Premier League for his performances at centre-back, which speaks to how spectacular his shows have been.
His kind for Leeds in these two seasons led to curiosity from elsewhere, and Manchester United swooped in to signal him for a British document £30m in the summertime of 2002.
This exhibits that the defender was an amazing signing for Leeds as a result of he was among the finest centre-backs within the Premier League in his second season, as proven by his inclusion within the Crew of the 12 months, and so they made a considerable revenue on him inside two years of his arrival.
Leeds may, now, discover their subsequent model of Rio Ferdinand by transferring to signal a brand new central defender this summer season, amid reported curiosity in a Ligue 1 star.
Leeds eyeing transfer for Ligue 1 star
In accordance with The Solar on Sunday’s print version (4 Could, web page 55), as relayed by MOTLeedsNews, Leeds have despatched scouts to look at Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi in motion this season.
The report claims that the West Yorkshire outfit have made the centre-back one in all their high targets heading into the summer season switch window, following their promotion to the Premier League.
It states that Marseille are in search of a price within the area of £20m for the 26-year-old defender, however it stays to be seen whether or not or not the Whites are keen to pay that a lot cash for him.
The outlet additionally reveals that the Argentina worldwide, who at the moment performs beneath Roberto De Zerbi in France, can be taken with a transfer to England, which ought to come as a lift to Leeds of their pursuit of the £20m-rated star.
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It’s now right down to Leeds to enter talks with Marseille, in the event that they determine to press forward with their curiosity within the Argentine ace, to wrap up a deal for Balerdi earlier than another groups enter the race for his signature.
If the Whites can get a transfer over the road for the Ligue 1 colossus in the summertime switch window, the right-footed titan might be Rio Ferdinand 2.0 for the membership.
Why Balerdi might be the subsequent Ferdinand for Leeds
As aforementioned, a part of what made Ferdinand such an amazing signing for Leeds was that he was already an skilled participant on the high degree who may slot straight into the facet.
Balerdi has performed 161 instances for Marseille, 124 instances in Ligue 1, and has been capped six instances by Argentina at worldwide degree, which exhibits that he has loads of expertise on the high degree.
Because of this Leeds wouldn’t be signing a younger participant with little expertise in Europe’s main leagues and taking a giant gamble on a promising gem, they’d be signing a star who is able to make an instantaneous affect within the Premier League.
Balerdi’s performances in Ligue 1 for Marseille this season recommend that he may are available as an instantaneous improve on Joe Rodon, regardless of the Welsh star’s strong showings within the Championship.
24/25 | Balerdi (Ligue 1) | Rodon (Championship) |
|---|---|---|
Appearances | 24 | 46 |
Tackles per sport | 2.0 | 0.9 |
Interceptions per sport | 1.3 | 0.6 |
Duels gained per sport | 5.0 | 4.4 |
Aerial duel success fee | 65% | 60% |
Ball recoveries per sport | 6.1 | 4.0 |
Stats through Sofascore | ||
As you may see within the desk above, the Argentina worldwide has made extra defensive actions – recoveries, tackles, duels gained, interceptions – per sport than Rodon has on common, while additionally being extra dominant within the air.
These statistics recommend that he may make an instantaneous affect at Elland Highway as a result of he has already outperformed the Wales worldwide at the next degree, which means that he might be an improve on him.
In March, De Zerbi described him as an “extraordinary” participant and hoped that “massive European groups” forgot about him in the summertime switch window.
This implies that Leeds would even be signing a participant who might be on the radar of ‘massive’ European sides sooner or later, which may see him offered on for a revenue additional down the road if he’s a hit within the Premier League.
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Higher signing than Solomon: Leeds lining up transfer for £25m “machine”
Leeds United may land an excellent higher signing than Manor Solomon by signing this £25m star.
Balerdi may, subsequently, arrive as Ferdinand 2.0 as a confirmed top-level centre-back who may hit the bottom operating earlier than being offered to an enormous membership sooner or later for a revenue on the £20m that might be spent on his providers this summer season.
