Surviving in the Premier League is increasingly being seen as one of the toughest tasks in football for newly promoted clubs. Now it’s Daniel Farke and Leeds United’s turn to take on the challenge, following their promotion from the Championship. They’ll hope to defy the odds and finish above the relegation zone.
In recent seasons, clubs like Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton made swift returns to the Championship, following a similar path to Luton Town, Burnley, and Sheffield United the year before. The last promoted sides to retain their top-flight status were Fulham, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest during the 2022/23 season.
For Leeds, staying up looks set to be both costly and complex. With the new Premier League season just weeks away, the club has already been active in the transfer market. Mirror Football explores the potential new arrivals at Elland Road.
Goalkeeper Search Begins – £40m Domino Effect?
One of the key priorities for Leeds appears to be signing a new goalkeeper, especially with Illan Meslier’s future in doubt after being dropped for the final stretch of last season.
A potential opportunity may arise with Newcastle United’s Nick Pope. With the Magpies chasing Burnley’s £40m-rated keeper James Trafford, Pope’s position could be under threat. If Newcastle secure Trafford, Pope may be on the move—and Leeds could pounce. At 33, Pope will want to be a starter if he’s to stake a claim for England’s World Cup squad.
£30m Striker on the Radar
Back in May, Sky Sports reported that Leeds were interested in Everton striker Beto. The Guinea-Bissau international struggled early under Sean Dyche but thrived under David Moyes, scoring seven goals in 19 matches.
Beto helped lift Everton to a safe 13th-place finish and, given the Toffees paid £20m for him, he could now command a fee of around £30m. Leeds reportedly have up to £100m to invest this summer, a figure they may well exceed. They’ve already signed Lukas Nmecha on a free and defender Jaka Bijol from Udinese.
Serie A Goal Threat – £25m Interest
Leeds are also reportedly keen on Lecce striker Nikola Krstovic. The Montenegro international netted 11 goals and provided five assists in 37 Serie A appearances last season—contributions that proved key to Lecce avoiding relegation by just three points.
Krstovic, who outscored high-profile names like Dusan Vlahovic and Christian Pulisic, could be available for around £25.6m. According to Corriere Dello Sport, Lecce are in discussions to sign Basel striker Kevin Carlos, who could act as Krstovic’s replacement—paving the way for a potential move to Leeds.
Rebuilding the Backline
In addition to signing Jaka Bijol, Leeds are eyeing Real Betis centre-back Natan. As reported by Estadio Deportivo, the Brazilian defender—on loan from Napoli last season—recently joined Betis on a permanent deal. However, interest from Leeds, Lazio, and other unnamed clubs has emerged.
The Spanish club reportedly turned down a €27m (£23.3m) bid for Natan, though the identity of the bidder is unclear. If Leeds do land him, Natan would likely pair up with Bijol to form an entirely new centre-back partnership—an ambitious but potentially risky overhaul aimed at shoring up the defence.
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