YP football writer Leon Wobschall gives his take on the priorities for Leeds United before they return to action in the 2024-25 Championship season ...
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00:00 What needs to happen at Eller Road in order to get them ready to be a competitive entity
00:11 again come the new season?
00:13 I think there's certain things that need to be done, Phil, but I think when you're looking
00:18 into it, the biggest thing that would sort of help Leeds to sort of go all the way next
00:22 year is keeping hold of Archie Gray.
00:25 I mean, he was one of those generational talents that seems to come around every so often.
00:33 He was named as a Championships Young Player of the Year and he's had a remarkable season
00:37 and plays with a real maturity and such an outstanding talent.
00:44 And even though he's a young lad, he could be a real talisman for Leeds if they could
00:48 manage to keep him.
00:51 Last season you could see the pain and the upset on the pitch, he really felt it.
00:56 Leeds is his club and I think he'll certainly be not be short of motivation and drive to
01:03 hopefully go all the way with Leeds next season and being a leader in doing so.
01:08 So if he can do that, that's a massive tick in the box for me.
01:11 They're bound to have interest, but there needs to be a real strong desire from Leeds
01:17 to keep hold of young Gray and build the team around him.
01:21 I think it's fair to say they will have to cut the cloth.
01:25 They still owe quite a bit in outstanding payments for players.
01:29 I think it's something like 78, 79 million.
01:33 So they're going to have to look into some of the certain players.
01:36 I think Sir Christian Somerville, he's got two years left on his contract, so the clock's
01:43 ticking.
01:44 You could see Leeds having to cash in on him and him maybe being sold.
01:51 Willy Gonto as well.
01:52 I mean, both players coincidentally came off, didn't they, in the second half at Wembley?
01:57 They didn't have the best of days and they couldn't show the form that they've shown
02:02 in the regular season.
02:04 He agitated for a move, didn't he, last summer?
02:07 You could see him leaving as well.
02:09 So that would lead to Leeds would have to bring in some new options in the attack in
02:17 third.
02:18 I thought they actually missed Pantry Bamford on the day, Phil, as well.
02:21 That sort of presence up front.
02:26 Joe Roden as well.
02:27 He's had a fine season.
02:28 He's gone back to Spurs.
02:29 I mean, he thinks Spurs will want to cash in on him.
02:34 So there's key strategic decisions that Leeds need to make.
02:40 But I don't think the upheaval will be anything like it was last summer.
02:45 You sort of looked at the mess that Leeds were in and the relegation clauses in players'
02:51 contracts, this and that.
02:53 Even though it's really painful to see what happened at the end for Leeds, you've still
02:58 got to sort of remember that they didn't get 90 points.
03:02 They've travelled a fair way with Daniel Farker and obviously the mission next year is to
03:08 go all the way.
03:10 It's the second season of parachute payments.
03:12 I don't think Leeds will be able to spend millions and millions and millions, but I
03:17 think the sort of natural cachet of the club, they should be able to still attract players
03:22 and certainly good quality players at this level for decent fees that they can afford
03:28 and loan players as well.
03:30 So they've got some key business to do.
03:33 [END]