Leeds United still have a chance of booking a place in the Premier League, so what should be on the agenda this summer?
Leeds United manager Garry Monk before the match
With the business end of the season in the Championship just about to really kick into top gear, Leeds are in an unfamiliar position.
By this stage of the year in previous seasons, thoughts tend to be fully on the summer and what can be done to end their run of unspectacular bottom-half finishes in the division. However, under Garry Monk, the Whites seem to be on the verge of something special.
Leeds are currently fourth in the table and in with a brilliant chance of securing a play-off spot, so it would be difficult to make too many plans for next season without knowing what division they will be in.
But despite that, here are five things Leeds have to make sure they try and get done regardless of which division they are in…
Sort the loanees’ futures
Much of Leeds’ success this term has been based around the quality of some of the players they have brought in on loan. The likes of Kyle Bartley, Pontus Jansson, Pablo Hernandez, Hadi Sacko and Alfonso Pedraza have shone for the club at times this term. Jansson and Hernandez have since been signed permanently, but getting the likes of Bartley, Sacko and Pedraza added, if just for another year, could be excellent business.
Meanwhile, Mo Barrow has probably not shown enough yet to earn an extended deal, and there will surely be a huge amount of surprise if Matt Grimes sticks around.
Leeds’ Kyle Bartley
Try one last time to get Charlie Taylor to stay
Charlie Taylor’s contract expires at the end of the season, and it seems unlikely that a new deal will be agreed based on the transfer request last summer (via Guardian). Securing promotion and subsequently offering an especially lucrative deal surely represents Leeds’ only chance of perhaps tempting the left-back to stay.
Move on the mediocrity
The likes of Toumani Diagouraga and Giuseppe Bellusci appear to have little chance of enjoying a successful future with Leeds, so it makes sense to get them off the wage bill once and for all. There are a few other players within the squad that probably need a new challenge as they are probably in for a frustrating time if they stick around much longer.
Add depth
Throughout the season, fans have been expecting Leeds’ bubble to burst, constantly asking questions like: what happens if Kyle Bartley, Pontus Jansson or Chris Wood gets injured for a long time? The Whites have predominantly been lucky with injuries, but should surely prepare to not have so much luck next season. Up front and at centre-back is certainly where more options are needed.
Reward Garry Monk
Promotion or not, Garry Monk has worked wonders since arriving at Elland Road, and the long list of Cellino appointments confirm how long it may take to find another who does so well. That work should not go unnoticed from elsewhere, and it seems likely that he will start to be linked with more and more top jobs in the future. Rewarding Monk with a new contract is a must.
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