Leeds United – Season Preview 2019/20
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Leeds have now been absent from England’s top-flight for fifteen seasons.
Having enjoyed great success in the late 90s and early 2000s, the Yorkshire club has since spent time in the third tier but seems to be on the up.
After missing out on promotion last season, one of the sleeping giants of English football may be about to rise once again.
Last season
Leeds spent a large portion of last season at the top of the Championship but a late dip in form saw them fall short of the automatic promotion places.
The club didn’t leave the top four places in the table for the duration of the 2018/19 campaign and will be devasted not to have secured promotion following such a successful season.
Leeds eventually finished 3rd and lost to Derby County in the play-offs; condemning the club to yet another season in the second-tier.
Next season
It’s unsurprising that Leeds are the bookmakers’ clear favorite for promotion this season.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men will be desperate to make up for last season’s failure and go one better this time around.
There was doubt over the Italian manager’s future but he has committed his services to the club and will no doubt be aiming for promotion in the upcoming campaign.
The squad will be stronger following their play-off disappointment, and with the prospect of Premier League football within touching distance last season, Leeds are likely to come out fighting.
Kemar Roofe will be key to the club’s promotion chances. Despite numerous different injuries last season, the striker still managed to score 15 league goals.
If he can stay fit and carry last season’s form into the new campaign, Roofe has the potential to fire Leeds back into the big time.
Players in
- Ben White - Loan from Brighton & Hove Albion
- Helder Costa - Loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Liam McCarron - Undisclosed from Carlisle United
- Jack Clarke - Loan from Tottenham Hotspur
Players out
- Jack Clarke - €11.00m to Tottenham Hotspur
- Pontus Jansson - €6.15m to Brentford
- Samu Saiz - €2.50m to Girona
- Caleb Ekuban - €1.00m to Trabzonspor
- Paudie O’Conner - Free to Bradford City
- Lewie Coyle - Loan to Fleetwood Town
- Jay-Roy Grot - Loan to Vitesse Arnhem
- Aapo Halme - Undisclosed to Barnsley
- Tyler Denton - Undisclosed to Stevenage
- Hadi Sacko - Undisclosed to Denizlispor
- Sam Dalby - Undisclosed to Watford
Predicted league finish
The predicted league finish for Leeds United is 1st. The team will not want to miss out on promotion again and this could spur them on to clinch the title.