Leeds United look set to have one of the most expensively assembled squads in the Championship again next season.
Alongside fellow relegated sides Leicester City and Southampton, Leeds had one of the top three priciest set of players in the division last term.
And given they were the only team not to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt, it is set to be the case again when the season gets underway in August. The fact all three promoted clubs came straight back down is also a contributing factor.
As per Squawka, Luton Town spent just £20 million to strengthen their squad last summer, a figure actually less than the circa £27 million Leeds did despite relegation.
Sheffield United, meanwhile, were slightly more at £43.8 million, with Burnley likely to be Leeds’ biggest competition for the most expensive squad having spent over £90 million, with even more following in January. That said, it will depend on who they can keep.
How Leeds can already field a front four worth nearly £100m
Since Leeds’ play-off final defeat to Southampton at the end of last month, much of the focus has been on who will be departing Elland Road this summer.
In the immediate aftermath of that afternoon, Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray were all touted for exits.
While the window does not officially open until Friday, Leeds have already made their first significant move of the summer with Brenden Aaronson now shockingly set to stay at the club.
Just one year after his £25 million arrival from RB Salzburg, Aaronson left Leeds on loan last summer in the wake of relegation but now looks look like he will be giving it another go in West Yorkshire.
Aaronson immediately looks likely to be Leeds’ starting number 10 next season and could form a quarter of a front four worth just shy of £100 million, without having to make a single signing.
Both Rutter and Dan James have seemingly committed their futures to Leeds via Instagram and themselves cost a combined figure of around £60.5 million. They could be Daniel Farke‘s two first choice wingers if Summerville and Gnonto leave.
Amid Farke’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, they would line-up in the trio just behind Joel Piroe, who ended last season as Leeds’ first choice number nine.
Piroe cost an initial £10.5 million from Swansea City last summer, taking the combined total up to an incredible £96 million, a quite remarkable total for a Championship side in their second season after relegation.
Despite being worth circa £100m, that front four not good enough for Leeds
While clearly on paper that is a stronger front four than most clubs can field at this level, it still doesn’t feel quite good enough.
Summerville and Gnonto provided so much flair and goals last season which isn’t really replaced by the names in that front four.
If they were to leave, Leeds would simply have to bring at least one new winger, primarily who prefers to play off the left, with plenty of star quality.
Piroe also proved on several occasions he is not the type of forward who can lead the line on his own and so a proper striker is also needed.