Leeds United need to spend big money as ‘Grey area’ emerges at Elland Road
Leeds United may need to spend big money in the coming months as a grey area has emerged at Elland Road.
The Whites are top of the Championship table as they came back from behind to beat Sheffield United 3-1 at Bramall Lane on Monday (24 February).
Junior Firpo, Ao Tanaka and Joel Piroe got on the scoresheet for the West Yorkshire outfit as they took the three points home.
Farke’s team look set for Premier League promotion as they’ve opened up a five-point gap at the top of the table, but reinforcement will arguably be needed next summer.
Farke will need quality players at Leeds United in Premier League
Phil Hay believes the 49ers Enterprises will need to spend money on fresh faces in the upcoming transfer window if they get back into the Premier League.
The Athletic journalist feels the Whites have players who are good enough for the Championship but not the Premier League, as things stand.
Hay thinks this “grey area” will need addressing if the West Yorkshire outfit eventually win promotion.
Speaking on The Athletic FC Podcast (26 February), the journalist said: “They do have good players at Leeds, there’s no doubt about that, and they’re by far and away the best squad in the Championship.
“But they still have what is endemic at every Championship club: a load of footballers who fall in the grey area between easily good enough for the Championship but not necessarily good enough for the Premier League.
“They’ll have to spend, recruit and change that squad to a certain extent.”
Elland Road will want to see 49ers Enterprises invest
Leeds will arguably need the 49ers Enterprises to spend money on strengthening the squad in the coming months to keep up with the big boys in the English top flight.
Farke is expected to succeed at Elland Road this season, and failure to do so could mean the end of his tenure with the Whites.
The Peacocks have one of the strongest squads in the Championship, considering they managed to compete without the likes of Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev in the first half of the season.
While the West Yorkshire outfit’s squad is decent enough right now, they will evidently need better players to survive relegation from the Premier League, given the current gap.
| Championship table (2024/25) | Points |
| 1. Leeds | 75 |
| 2. Sheffield United | 70 |
| 3. Burnley | 68 |
| 4. Sunderland | 62 |
Farke has relied on Piroe to score consistently this season, and the Dutchman has hardly been backed by any of his other attacking teammates.
Mateo Joseph was given several opportunities at the start of the campaign but failed to impress many with his displays.
Along with the Spanish forward, Patrick Bamford has also been underwhelming this season with injuries again and looks to be on his way out.
The Whites also seem to have a lack of depth at centre-back, and any gaps in the squad could be detrimental to them once they get back into the Premier League.