Every Leeds player who'll have their future to play for in 2026-27 Premier League season

Leeds United could be in for a memorable 2026-27 season, but it could be their last at Elland Road for some.

After a strong debut campaign back in the Premier League last term, Leeds mean business in their sophomore season.

Daniel Farke may not have signed vast quantities of new players, but the four new arrivals all look like being quality, impactful additions.

As a result, the Whites are emerging on a growing number of lips as potential dark horses for European qualification in 2026-27.

But, as expectations grow and more quality players keep arriving, competition for places in the squad is only going to increase too.

So, ahead of their opening game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, MOT Leeds News circles every Whites player at risk of exile this season.

Ao Tanaka could be heading for fringes of Leeds' squad

One Leeds player who didn't really take their chance in pre-season this summer was Ao Tanaka.

The 27-year-old Japanese international was also coming off a World Cup campaign, which may have factored into his mostly underwhelming displays.

However, despite playing a vital part in the promotion season of 2024-25, he's not yet made himself indispensable to Farke at Premier League level.

Sean Longstaff enjoyed a brilliant summer campaign, and has surely jumped ahead of Tanaka in the central midfield pecking order.

And so, with the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach, Ilia Gruev (when fit) for company too, he may now be a squad player at best.

If that doesn't change quickly, then he could be a player Leeds potentially look to move on from at some point this season.

Let's now take a look at a couple of Leeds forwards whose Elland Road futures could hang in the balance in 2026-27.

Why Leeds' attacking ranks are filled with players on the brink

Barring the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Harry Wilson and Noah Okafor, the rest of Leeds' attack force are far from having certain futures in LS11.

Dan James has enjoyed a strong pre-season, but with Wilson and Brenden Aaronson for company, holding down a starting role looks very tough.

Meanwhile, Lukas Nmecha will again have to prove that he's a capable enough Calvert-Lewin deputy, or risk seeing Farke hunt for an upgrade.

Wilfried Gnonto still hasn't really proven himself at Premier League level, and now turning 23 this season, it's starting to feel like now or never in that regard.

Finally, there's Mateo Joseph, who is now back in West Yorkshire following his loan spell with Mallorca.

The 22-year-old is contracted until the summer of 2028, but he's never scored more than three goals in a single season during his career so far.

If the young Spaniard is to stick around at Elland Road for much longer, he must find a way to catch Farke's eye in 2026-27.

Whether that be through forcing his way into the first-team picture, or via a strong spell away from the club on loan.

There is still one player in defence who may need to be even better in his second season with Leeds for the sake of his long-term prospects here.

Who is the Leeds centre-back at risk of losing starting role?

Two of Leeds' four new summer signings have been centre-backs, in the shape of Tarik Muharemovic and Nico Elvedi.

As a result, this could be bad news for the future of Jaka Bijol at Elland Road, as the Slovenian looks to retain his starting role in 2026-27.

Joe Rodon was superb in pre-season, however, and may just have edged ahead of him in the depth chart.

Muharemovic looks a classy player, and Elvedi has bags of Bundesliga and international experience under his belt too, and should be a quality signing.

Now 27, Bijol is in the prime of his career and likely won't want to spend that playing a support role on a Premier League bench.

So, if he can't consistently hold down a place in the side this term, come this time next year, the Slovenian may be on the chopping block.