Leeds United's bold £73m transfer window after Red Bull investment - according to prediction

The sting of missing out on an immediate return to the Premier League is still prominent for Leeds United and their supporters.

Twelve months on from tumbling out of the top flight, there were high hopes Daniel Farke could guide the Whites back into English football’s elite - but the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion was only heightened when Southampton inflicted a 1-0 defeat in last Sunday’s Championship play-off final.

There will be a need to throw off the disappointment and focus on what could lie ahead at Elland Road as Leeds face up to a second consecutive season in the second tier. The recent minority investment from Red Bull, who will become the club’s shirt sponsor from next season, will be a boost - but what action will be taken in the transfer market over the coming months. We fired up Football Manager 2024 to see how the world’s most popular management simulation believes things will pan out for Farke and his squad.

Goalkeepers

A boring start with nothing to report other than Illan Meslier has been handed a new deal that will keep him at Elland Road until the summer of 2028 and former Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow has been given an additional year on his deal that was set to expire in the summer of 2026.

Farke’s goalkeeping options: Illan Meslier, Kristoffer Klaesson, Karl Darlow

Defenders

There are some new signings to assess amongst the defensive ranks - but firstly there have been some departures and some interesting returns from loan spells. Diego Llorente, Max Wober and Rasmus Kristensen are all back in the Whites squad - although they have returned to take the place of Liam Cooper and Junior Firpo, who have both departed on free transfers to Cardiff City and Club Brugge respectively.

The first new addition come in the form of Manchester City centre-back Callum Doyle, who joins on a season-long loan deal from the Premier League champions after helping Leicester City secure promotion into the top tier. Former Manchester United youngster Ethan Laird joined in a £10m deal from Birmingham City and left-back Alex Valle was snapped up on a free transfer following his departure from Barcelona.

Farke’s defensive options: Joe Rodon, Diego Llorente, Sam Byram, Callum Doyle, Max Wober, Ethan Laird, Alex Valle, Charlie Cresswell

Midfielders

Again, there were very few departures in the middle of the park - although academy graduate Lewis Bate did join Middlesbrough on a free transfer and Jamie Shackleton has moved to Blackburn Rovers in a £1m deal. There are three new faces amongst the midfield options as Inter Milan’s Italy Under-21 international Giovanni Fabbian joins on a season-long loan deal, Moroccan international Amir Richardson arrives on an £8.5m deal from French club Reims and £10.5m is handed to Almeria for Lucas Robertone.

Farke’s midfielder options: Ethan Ampadu, Glen Kamara, Iliya Gruev, Archie Gray, Giovanni Fabian, Amir Richardson, Darko Gyabi, Lucas Robertone

Forwards

This is where major money is brought into Elland Road as two attacking players are allowed to depart before the new season gets underway. Firstly, Daniel James is off to Italy after the Whites accepted a £9.5m offer from Salernitana within a week of the transfer window opening for business. Perhaps more surprisingly, Joel Piroe’s time at Leeds came to an end after just one season as Farke sold the striker to former club Norwich City in a £5m deal. However, the most lucrative departure saw Wilfried Gnonto head to French club Nice in a £28m move that seems to have allowed Farke to retain the services of Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville. There is one new arrival as joins on a season-long loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur.

Farke’s forward options: Mateo Joseph, Joe Gelhardt, Georgino Rutter, Crysencio Summerville, Bryan Gil, Sam Greenwood