Leeds United ‘to spend £200m’ to avoid early Premier League embarrassment
Leeds United must learn from Southampton and Leicester’s mistakes as they prepare for life in the Premier League next season.
Daniel Farke and Co sit atop the Championship table with 76 points after 35 games, enjoying a three-point lead over second-placed Sheffield United.
Although there are 11 games left to play, Leeds are on course to earn promotion to the Premier League as they are sitting eight points above Burnley in an automatic promotion spot.
Therefore, the Elland Road outfit will definitely have an eye on next season as they ready themselves for an extended stay in the top flight, unlike last time.
Tony Mowbray delivers Premier League verdict at Leeds United
Sitting sixth in the table, West Brom are in the running to earn promotion this season, but their manager Tony Mowbray has admitted that Leeds United are definitely going up this time.
The English tactician also revealed that he has had a conversation with Farke to discuss how the West Yorkshire outfit will approach their life in the Premier League.
| Team | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1. Leeds | 35 | 22 | 10 | 3 | 50 | 76 |
| 6. West Brom | 35 | 12 | 16 | 7 | 13 | 52 |
He went on to admit that he is concerned that Leeds will struggle like Southampton and Leicester are and be relegated by February next season if they do not bolster their ranks significantly.
The manager went on to moot £200million as a sum Leeds might have to spend in the summer to avoid immediate relegation.
“[Leeds] are very, very good. I’m sure in my mind they are going up”, Mowbray said, speaking to BirminghamLive (3 March).
“I think for this football club it’s about what they do in the summer. I had a chat with Daniel [Farke], how much are they going to spend? How are they going to survive?
“Southampton and Leicester were amazing teams last year in this league and they can’t win a game. So is that going to be Leeds next year?
“There’s always this thing at the back of your mind – ‘what are we going to do in the summer?’ Are Leeds going to spend £200m just to give themselves half a chance?
“Or are they going to go with this team and probably get relegated by February? I don’t know the answers.”
Farke to prove Premier League mettle
Farke has built a reputation as a promotion specialist, having led Norwich to the top flight twice during his four-year spell at Carrow Road.
The Canaries initially returned to the Premier League as Championship winners in the 2018-19 season under the German tactician, but dropped straight back down next season.
Farke repeated the trick the following season, taking Norwich back to the Premier League as Championship winners in the 2020-21 season.
However, the 48-year-old was sacked just 11 games into the following Premier League season.
Farke has proved that earning a team promotion is an easy task for him by now, but serving in the Premier League is what he has struggled with.
Therefore, he will be determined to prove his credentials as a Premier League manager if and when he takes Leeds United there.