Leeds United can officially start signing players from Friday onwards.
The Whites have now had almost two-and-a-half-weeks to reflect on the play-off final defeat to Southampton last month, which consigned them to another season of Championship football.
But while there will still be the obvious feeling of disappointment, those behind-the-scenes will have been working hard to ensure Leeds can go one better next term.
With that in mind, Leeds have had no time to be left feeling sorry for themselves and so some key decisions have already been taken in that period since Wembley.
Since chairman Paraag Marathe’s bullish interview on next season came to light, a lucrative sponsorship deal with Red Bull has been announced, Sam Byram has signed a new contract, and Brenden Aaronson is reportedly set to return to Elland Road.
New Leeds target Couhaib Driouech has already dropped a hint on his future
While all those aforementioned decisions are steps in the right direction, it will ultimately be new signings that get pulses racing among supporters.
Leeds have already been linked with a handful of players ahead of the window opening, with Chelsea’s Alfie Gilchrist and Fulham’s Bobby De Cordova-Reid mentioned as possible targets.
And there was a new name to add to the list this morning with Excelsior winger Couhaib Driouech reportedly on the radar of several clubs including Leeds and Victor Orta’s Sevilla.
Driouech has actually been the subject of heavy interest from PSV already this summer but negotiations are set to have hit an impasse, despite it being his preferred destination.
The 22-year-old was also wanted by fellow Championship side Swansea City back in the January window but instead opted to stay at Excelsior, where he was relegated.
In an interview with Ziggo Sport: Kick ‘t Met, via Voetbal, back in March, Driouech was actually asked about his decision to stay in the Netherlands during the winter.
Driouech claimed that he did not see Swansea, or any of the other interested clubs as the ‘right next step’ in his career, which could be a potential hint that he will not move to the Championship.
He said: “We cancelled foreign clubs because we preferred to stay in the Netherlands. The clubs came from England, France and Italy. It involved four clubs: Lorient, Swansea City, Como and Lecce. I did not see that as the right next step.”
Excelsior relegation could help Leeds’ Driouech pursuit
Things can happen very quickly in football and so after Excelsior’s relegation to the second tier of Dutch football, it may force him to re-think.
A move to Leeds would now very much be a step up in quality, if it wasn’t anyway, and could actually be a logical step in his development.
With the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto having been touted for exits alongside Jaidon Anthony this summer, Leeds could be in need of at least two wingers.
Being a right-footer who plays off the left, Driouech would fit the bill and so it will be interesting to see whether he would turn down a move to Leeds, if the opportunity arose.