Leeds United will know what division they are playing in by the end of May.
The Whites were forced to settle for a place in the Championship play-off spots after missing out on automatic promotion to Ipswich Town due to a poor end to the season.
With the summer already fast approaching, those behind-the-scenes will already be putting plans in place so Leeds can enter the transfer window well prepared.
However, Leeds’ recruitment staff will need to plan for two eventualities, as it is still very much unclear whether they will be a Premier League side again come August.
Promotion would, of course, lead to a considerably more exciting window of incomings to strengthen the squad. Staying down, on the other hand, would mean a far more conservative window.
With £190 million of unpaid transfer instalments still hanging over Leeds, key player sales would be needed. 49ers Enterprises would also have to spend their money wisely.
Charlie Taylor could be available on a free this summer
One market in which Leeds simply have to make use of this summer if they fail to win promotion is the free agent one.
There are a number of players out of contract next month Leeds could look at signing, perhaps none more so than Coventry City’s Callum O’Hare. He would be a useful addition in either league.
After interest from Leeds in January, Ben Johnson is another. The 24-year-old should be one of two full-backs the Whites look to sign for nothing this summer.
The other player is Charlie Taylor, who Leeds actually made an offer to sign last summer. Due to Burnley’s failure to sign a left-back of their own, though, he stayed.
As recently as March, Taylor admitted he hasn’t given much thought to a new deal at Turf Moor and with the Clarets set to be relegated, he could be on the lookout for a fresh start.
Taylor is, of course, a product of Leeds’ academy and made over 100 appearances for his boyhood club before actually joining Burnley on a free in 2017.
With almost 300 appearances under his belt in England’s top two divisions, Taylor is a proven performer at this level and would bring a wealth of experience to a young Leeds squad.
Leeds should target better if they get promoted but if that does not happen, this one really feels like a no brainer.
Taylor could be a strong Junior Firpo replacement
During the second half of the season, Junior Firpo has performed excellently for Leeds, providing seven assists since the turn of the New Year.
He made his first real defensive error against Southampton on Saturday but that should not take away from how he has played over the last few months. Firpo has been up there with the best in his position.
However, given how likely it had looked Firpo would leave last summer, there is surely little chance he would stick around for another Championship season.
This is probably the highest Firpo’s stock has been since joining Leeds in 2021, and with his contract up next summer, it would be the last chance to bring in some money for him.
Without spending a penny on transfer fees, Taylor would be an ideal replacement.