Leeds United will be looking to get their summer window off to a faster start than this time 12 months ago.
Following relegation from the Premier League, it was not until mid-July that Leeds were really able to start preparing for the season as 49ers Enterprises worked to complete their full takeover of the club.
Focus was then switched towards finding a successor for Sam Allardyce in the dugout, of which they eventually landed on Daniel Farke, who will be keeping his job despite failure to win promotion.
Though Paraag Marathe has already confirmed there will be key player departures this summer, he has insisted they are in a better position to hit the ground running in the window.
Marathe has also claimed there will be funds available to spend, even with the tighter PSR restrictions in the EFL, and the need to pay off around £73 million in unpaid transfer instalments by June 30.
Leeds have ‘not given up’ on signing Joe Rodon this summer
Having been consigned to another year of Championship football, much of the early focus has been on who might leave, as opposed to who could come in.
Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto, Archie Gray and Georginio Rutter have all been touted for the exit door, and sales of the first three in particular would bring in significant profit.
However, Marathe has promised Leeds will build a side capable of putting together another promotion push and according to Leeds Live, they have not given up on signing Joe Rodon permanently.
Rodon enjoyed a ‘fantastic‘ season-long-loan from Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road, but with no option-to-buy having been agreed, his future is uncertain.
Premier League sides have already started taking a look at him as a result of his performances, and the reported asking price of Spurs may be deemed too steep for a Championship side.
But given how much Rodon enjoyed his time at the club, Leeds still maintain hope he can be brought back permanently this summer, which would be a huge boost to their promotion chances.
What has Rodon said about joining Leeds permanently?
Rodon was asked about the chances of him joining Leeds in the week leading up to the play-off final, and he certainly left the door open for it to happen.
The Wales international says Leeds has now become a ‘second home’ for him, but at the same time, he does have aspirations of playing at the highest level.
He said: “It would be nice to have stability and know where I am next season. I’ve always strived to get to the elite level and hopefully I can get back there with Leeds, but you never know.
“I don’t want to look too far into the future, although I do love it here and Leeds feels like a second home to me now. I’m just concentrating on giving my best and getting this club back to where it belongs.”