Leeds United set for ‘really ugly’ 2025-26 season in grim new prediction
Sky Sports broadcaster Dougie Critchley has suggested the 2025-26 season could be “really ugly” for Leeds United if they return to the Premier League.
Daniel Farke’s side currently sit second in the Championship, three points away from Sheffield United in top spot while third-placed Burnley are one point behind the Whites.
Leeds know all too well how tough life can be in the top flight, something that has only been emphasised by the newly promoted sides in the Premier League this season, as two of them are in the relegation zone and the other, Leicester City, are only two points clear.
Critchley, who regularly appears on Sky Sports News, thinks the future is grim for any of the sides promoted to the Premier League as he posted on X: Think the newly promoted sides are struggling this year…
“A Leeds side that lost Rutter, Gray and Summerville are 2nd in the Championship. And a Sheffield United side that kept 4 of their 14 most used players from 23/24 are top.
“25/26 could get really, really ugly.”
Could Leeds United cope back in the Premier League?
Critchley’s analysis of the current promoted sides doesn’t make good reading for Leeds fans and if his predictions are correct, it could certainly be a tough year in the Premier League for the Whites if they do get promoted.
It’s no secret that the step up to the top flight is a tough transition and, as Critchley points out, there are players that the top two Championship sides have lost ahead of this season which they would rather have in their side if they go up.
However, it also feels as though the Sky Sports man has failed to take some context into account here. Although the newly promoted sides have struggled this season, Leicester had issues with Financial Fair Play rules that meant they were limited in what they could do.
Meanwhile, Russell Martin was seemingly unable to adapt to help his side suit to life in the top flight, while Ipswich still have a large chunk of the side that were present when they were promoted to the Championship.
In comparison, the Whites have a manager in Farke as well as players in that squad who have the experience of Premier League football from their recent stint in the top flight, as well as no controversy at their door which could affect them.
It will never be easy in the top league of English football and rightly so, but Leeds could surely be a surprise package just like they proved to be in the 2020-21 season if they do indeed go up.
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