Who will be the first of this quartet to return to Leeds United?
France’s Paul Pogba in action
Manchester United paid a staggering £89 million to re-sign Paul Pogba from Juventus earlier this month, and the midfielder was greeted with a hero’s welcome.
They are not the only club to lose young talents at an early age and to want to bring them back, but not every side has the bottomless pits of money to finance a return.
One club who have lost their fair share of talented midfielders are Leeds United, who remain stuck in Championship mid-table frustration, dreaming of more glorious days gone by.
While bringing back their top stars will not happen this summer, there remains a possibility the club do so in the future, especially with more financial backing, and if they win promotion to the Premier League.
Here are four central midfield aces who left Leeds United too soon, but may also have a chapter at the club left to write…
James Milner
James Milner celebrates scoring for Leeds
James Milner broke into the Leeds United team just as their successful side of the early 2000s was beginning to unfold, making his debut at just 16.
As a Leeds supporter, Milner was disappointed to be sold in 2004 to Newcastle United to raise funds at a time the club were leaking money.
Milner has gone on to play for Manchester City and Liverpool, and represented England at major tournaments.
Still just 30, the versatile star has plenty left to offer and it is conceivable to picture him returning to Leeds for a couple of seasons in two or three years time as his career winds down, and potentially even lead them back into the top flight.
Fabian Delph
Leeds United’s Fabian Delph
Fabian Delph was touted as Leeds United’s next big star in 2008, but it quickly became apparent the club would not be able to hold onto him.
He was later sold to Aston Villa, where he took a while to kick on, before controversially leaving for Manchester City last summer, and is currently working under Pep Guardiola.
Delph’s former agent is Leeds United’s new CEO Ben Mansford, who told BBC Radio Leeds last month, that he has already broached the subject of returning to Elland Road one day.
At just 26 it may be a while until he wants to drop divisions, so Leeds may have to win promotion to stand a chance of tempting him back sooner.
Jonny Howson
Jonny Howson celebrates scoring for Leeds United
Jonny Howson’s sale to Norwich City in 2012 stung, with the academy talent sold after playing more than 200 games for the club and earning the captain’s armband.
Howson remains with the Canaries, who are in the same division as Leeds at present, although he has had a taste of Premier League football with the East Anglian side.
The 28-year-old has two years left to run on his current deal at Norwich, but if he does not renew and the Canaries are no closer than Leeds to winning promotion during that period, a return to Elland Road could be tempting.
Lewis Cook
Leeds United’s Lewis Cook scores their first goal
Picture the scene. It’s 2019 and Leeds have just won promotion to the Premier League at long last.
Lewis Cook has continued his improvement at Bournemouth and won call-ups with England, but backed by new investors, Leeds splash the cash and bring their former hero back in a £15 million deal and make him captain.
This seems like a dream scenario for the Whites, having just sold Cook this summer, but if they can win promotion to the top flight, there is surely nowhere the midfielder would rather be than at Elland Road.
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