Leeds United aren’t gripped with dread this summer that a whole host of their star players could be exiting Elland Road.
That was the overwhelming emotion last summer, however, after Daniel Farke’s Whites heartbreakingly lost the Championship playoff final to Southampton. Now, with a title success under their belt, the West Yorkshire giants don’t have that same level of worry to contend with.
Old wounds could soon be reopened by their emergence into the Premier League, though, as the likes of Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville potentially line up against their former employers next season for Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham United respectively.
Alongside that magic duo, ex-Thorp Arch product Archie Gray could also clash with Leeds, having also shone in glimpses for new side Tottenham Hotspur.
Gray's sad Leeds exit
Amazingly, the versatile 19-year-old has already collected silverware since donning Spurs white, memorably lifting the Europa League recently, which is some feat just one season into his North London adventure.
This would have been one key factor as to why he left his boyhood employers behind after just one mere season in the senior ranks, knowing he could cut it at an elite level already.
There was clearly a hunger to succeed up a level, whilst Farke and Co. were left to battle away again to try and finally get out of the unforgiving Championship.
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Still, there is a lack of visible bad blood on Leeds’ end as Gray gave everything across the 2023/24 season for the cause, with the teenage sensation lining up wherever needed and impressing under Farke’s stewardship.
The Whites would have at least been glad to get £30m out of Ange Postecoglou’s men, but there will be a worry that Gray left prematurely, and he will soon become even more of a classy talent for the Lilywhites, away from Elland Road.
History could unfortunately repeat itself too if Leeds were to sell an equally exciting youngster who has shown flashes of his obvious quality during their promotion-winning heroics.
£10m attacker may never play for Leeds again
Whilst Farke was the boss to gift Gray his first tastes of senior action in West Yorkshire, the German might not be prepared to be as charitable up a division when handing equally promising starlets more chances.
That might be why Mateo Joseph is eyeing up the exit door this summer, with a new report from French outlet L’Equipe stating that Liam Rosenior’s RC Strasbourg are keen on adding the raw Spaniard to their camp if he does fancy an exit route out of England.
Journalist Graeme Bailey has also weighed in on the speculation surrounding Joseph by exclusively revealing he is considering his options and is now ready to bid farewell to the Whites, despite looking at home in a Leeds starting lineup on occasion, especially when he bagged this quickfire brace against Chelsea last year.
He also showed off his clinical edge in the Leeds first team last season when sparingly handed minutes by Farke, with a standout tally of three goals and three assists coming his way in league action, despite only being gifted 11 starts.
Much like Gray, this is undoubtedly an impressive season for an academy product who had only experienced youth football before this big leap under the ex-Norwich City boss.
But, with £10m bids reportedly coming Leeds’ way for Joseph’s services from the likes of La Liga outfit Real Betis, Leeds could soon cash in on another of their top youth players before they have fully blossomed.
These added funds might well boost Leeds if they are keen on adding in some star quality for the Premier League, yet in the long term, Joseph could go on to establish himself as a top attacker elsewhere in another regrettable Gray-style repeat.
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