Leeds United’s recruitment team will already be thinking about positions that could require upgrading if they are promoted to the Premier League.
The Whites currently sit second in the Championship table with just over a week of the season remaining, as they look set to battle it out with Ipswich Town for that final automatic promotion spot.
With it still uncertain what division Leeds will be in next season, those behind-the-scenes will need to be putting plans in place for both potential eventualities.
In the event Leeds do go up, there have already been links to potential targets. Borussia Monchengladbach’s Luca Netz and Genoa’s Koni De Winter have been mentioned, while Joe Rodon would all but certainly join permanently.
Leeds are also said to be keen on a potential deal to re-sign Kalvin Phillips and while it is still early days, these links prove an exciting summer could be ahead if promotion happens.
Hay says Illan Meslier is the most obvious upgrade for Leeds if promoted
Having kept key players such as Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto and Georginio Rutter, as well as the emergence and arrival of Archie Gray and Ethan Ampadu, Leeds’ squad wouldn’t need major surgery.
However, as seen with the likely relegation of the three promoted clubs in Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town, it is getting harder and harder to stay in the Premier League.
And so with that in mind, there would have to be an element of ruthlessness to Leeds’ strategy, and that could mean the phasing out of some players who have been key this season.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Square Ball Podcast, Athletic journalist Phil Hay currently feels Illan Meslier and the goalkeeping position as a whole is the most obvious area that needs upgrading.
He said: “I do wonder whether, and I have seen a bit of criticism about Meslier and I do understand it, I think there will be questions asked if they do go up whether they need to do something about the goalkeepers.
“Had it not been Meslier this season and it had been Darlow, I am not convinced that would’ve been as good a setup or worked as well. The question mark for me over Meslier is usually his distribution more than anything and the quality of it.
“But based on the little I have seen of Darlow in the flesh, which isn’t much, I do think Meslier’s distribution is better than his, so it has been the right way round and right decision to have him as a number one from a choice of the two.”
Meslier has improved this season, but Leeds would need better in Premier League
This time last year, Meslier’s career at Leeds looked all but done. The young French shotstopper was dropped to the bench for the final four matches of last season, after a torrid run of form.
It had then looked likely he would depart in the summer until Farke stepped in and told the board he was a player he was keen to keep.
It has certainly taken some time to rebuild his confidence, but Farke has continued to back him all season, at one point even labelling him as the best goalkeeper in the division.
Meslier is certainly in a better place with his game than 12 months ago, but whether he would be good enough to make the step up, is another question.