Leeds United will kick off their 2022/2023 Premier League campaign in just two weeks when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, July 30. This summer has been a busy one for Jesse Marsch and Victor Orta as the club look to deepen the squad and learn from last season’s mistakes.
Two big-money sales - Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha to Manchester City and Barcelona respectively for a combined £100million - have funded the arrivals of seven players including Luis Sinisterra, Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams. But while all involved in West Yorkshire are desperate for a deeper squad, there is a fine line before it becomes saturated.
Those who were already on the fringes of the first-team have since been pushed further down the pecking order, with those six arrivals coinciding with the increasing prominence of key youth prospects such as Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood and Archie Gray. And in a bid to maintain harmony within the squad, Whites boss Marsch will be looking still to move on some of the current crop.
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Kiko Casilla looks all but certain to leave Elland Road after a nightmare three years at the club, spending last season on loan at Spanish outfit Elche. The 35-year-old has a contract until 2023 with the Whites but is likely to either leave on loan for another season or terminate his contract - in our recent keep/sell survey, 91.3% of the 3,914 fans who made a decision on the former Madrid stopper opted to sell.
Helder Costa is another player of the Marcelo Bielsa era who is unlikely to play for Leeds again. He spent last season on loan at Valencia but failed to score in 22 appearances for Gennaro Gattuso’s side. The Portuguese international still has two years left on his contract at Elland Road, but 83.2% of the 4,064 surveyed wanted him sold. A loan is most likely due to the contract, with potential to terminate the deal next summer, allowing the winger to leave on a free.
More than half of fans surveyed wanted to see both Ian Poveda and Stuart Mckinstry moved on permanently, with 57.7% and 56.4% opting for a move away. Poveda spent last season on loan at Championship side Blackburn Rovers but missed the majority of the campaign through injury - he is behind several wingers in the pecking order at Elland Road, with the club reportedly keen on a loan to buy offer. McKinstry was part of the under-23s side that were eventually relegated from the Premier League 2 last season and he may look for a loan move away in a bid to pick up some senior football experience.
But one player who the majority of Whites fans want to keep - 60.4% of the 4,011 fans who answered - is Leif Davis. The 22-year-old did travel to Australia and featured regularly at left-back following Junior Firpo’s injury, with Marsch describing his inclusion as similar to a trial period.
But the American coach has also made it clear that the club are actively looking for a left-back in the window, which suggests Davis may leave - Ipswich Town are said to be the most interested side.
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