Leeds United now face a transfer window of uncertainty after Sunday’s play-off final defeat to Southampton.
Much of the focus will be on those who could potentially be heading out of the Elland Road exit door in the coming weeks, of which there could be several.
BBC journalist Rory Smith has claimed Leeds will find it difficult to keep hold of Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto, Archie Gray and Georginio Rutter, while Premier League interest in Joe Rodon may make it difficult to sign him.
49ers Enterprises have acknowledged some of those will have to go, but at the same time, they will be looking to build a squad capable of going again.
On paper, the Championship does not look anywhere near as strong as it did this season, so if Leeds can get this summer right, there is no reason why they can’t push again.
The free agent market could come in handy if Leeds are to do that, and so we have taken a look at three Championship players the Whites could sign whose contracts come to an end next month.
Callum O’Hare
With Leeds’ attacking talent likely to be the subject of plenty of interest, it will be imperative they are properly replaced.
One position they lacked an out-and-out specialist last season was the number 10 role, having failed to bring in Nadiem Amiri from Bayer Leverkusen late on in August.
However, the perfect central attacking midfielder could be available for nothing this summer, with Callum O’Hare yet to sign a new deal at Coventry City.
According to the Coventry Telegraph, O’Hare is unlikely to agree fresh terms with the Sky Blues having scored six goals and provided three assists in 18 league starts across the 2023/24 campaign.
At 26, O’Hare is now entering the prime of his career and handing him the responsibility of being Leeds’ main creative threat could be appealing to him, though there is Premier League interest.
Cedric Kipre
Another position which looks set for an overhaul this summer is centre-back, with potentially three of Leeds’ four options leaving.
As mentioned, it is unclear whether Rodon will return, while Liam Cooper looks set to leave at the end of his contract. It is also hard to see Charlie Cresswell sticking around again after such limited game time.
At the very least, Leeds will need at least two new central defenders and one player who fits the bill is West Bromwich Albion’s Cedric Kipre.
Kipre has been offered a new deal at the Hawthorns but is yet to put pen-to-paper, and Leeds should make it their mission to swoop in quickly.
Starting 46 of West Brom’s 48 league matches is reliable fitness-wise, and was also part of a defence which was the third best in the division.
With almost 200 Championship appearances under his belt, he would bring plenty of experience, as well as somewhat of a threat from attacking set-pieces, which Leeds severely lacked after Pascal Struijk’s injury.
Charlie Taylor
Having just been relegated from the Premier League with Burnley, as it stands, Charlie Taylor is going into the summer as a free agent.
Taylor has been offered a new deal at Turf Moor, but like Kipre, has not yet signed it, potentially giving Leeds time to swoop in and make a move of their own.
Leeds were keen on signing Taylor this time 12 months ago, and so clearly there is interest from Daniel Farke and the club’s recruitment team.
Taylor, of course, progressed through the academy at Leeds, and so knows what it takes to play for the club. He is also 30 and would bring some much needed experience.
It is unclear what the future holds for Junior Firpo at Elland Road but with just 12 months left on his contract, this will be the last chance to get a fee.
If he does leave, a move for Taylor would be a no brainer.