Nine relegated Premier League stars Leeds United could look to sign including 15-goal West Ham trio
Leeds United could look to their Premier League relegation rivals for a summer transfer option.
Leeds United witnessed the agony of Premier League relegation from afar following Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to West Ham. Daniel Farke’s side put in one of their worst recent performances at the London Stadium but three second-half Hammers goals proved meaningless with their drop to the Championship confirmed.
The Whites could have climbed up to 12th with a final-day win but won’t be at all disappointed with 14th. They’ve been mathematically safe for two weeks now with plans already underway to further strengthen Farke’s squad - and as is often the case, a chance might arise to pluck the best talent from their season-long relegation rivals.
Below, the YEP picks out three potential options from each of the three relegated clubs.
West Ham
Final-day victory meant little for West Ham, whose relegation was confirmed thanks to Tottenham Hotspur’s win over Everton. Reports emerged immediately after full-time suggesting a London Stadium summer exodus, with over £150million needing to be raised through player sales.
The most obvious route to raising those funds is Mateus Fernandes, who was West Ham’s best player on Sunday and has been all season. The 21-year-old registered three goals and four assists in the Premier League and as a creative but industrious attacking midfielder, fits a profile Leeds need.
He could prove out of reach, however, with West Ham likely to make profit on the midfielder who they signed for £40m last summer, and who is a reported target for Champions League clubs. Jarrod Bowen might also be an ambitious one but at 29, is less likely to catch the attention of elite-level recruitment teams than Fernandes.
Bowen registered nine goals and 11 assists in the Premier League this season and Leeds arguably need a left-footed right-winger more than anything this summer. They could also do with at least one left-footed centre-back, making Konstantinos Mavropanos another tempting option.
The Greek international has impressed in both boxes - scoring three goals this season - can play in a four or a three and has plenty of top-level and international experience. He’ll be another to attract interest from teams financially superior to Leeds, however.
Burnley
There is uncertainty surrounding Pascal Struijk, who enters the final year of his Leeds contract this summer, but even if the Dutchman stays another left-footer is needed. And one alternative option to West Ham’s Mavropanos is Burnley favourite Maxime Esteve who looks set to leave Turf Moor.
The 23-year-old is reportedly a target for clubs like Everton and Bournemouth, having impressed during an otherwise miserable season for Burnley. Midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu has also been one of the Clarets’ better performers during his debut campaign at Turf Moor, having signed for over £20m last summer.
The 22-year-old scored three goals from midfield - including against Leeds back in October - but operates best in the box-to-box role currently occupied by the likes of Anton Stach or Sean Longstaff. If reinforcements in that area are to arrive, the feeling is they need a higher-floor back-up for Ethan Ampadu.
Florentino Luis also joined Burnley last summer and while his move was initially on loan, a roughly £20m option to buy suggests parent club Benfica would be open to selling the 26-year-old. He is a more defensive-minded option, should a decision be made to sell Ilia Gruev for example.
Wolves
Like West Ham and Burnley above them, Wolves actually have a promising left-footed centre-back for Leeds to potentially look at. Ladislav Krejci is arguably the best of the bunch, too, having joined initially on loan from Girona in a deal that will be made permanent for around £26m.
The 27-year-old has been really solid for Wolves, playing on the left of a back three or four - he can also move into defensive midfield when needed. Like Struijk, the Czech Republic international is excellent on the ball but arguably not quite as good when it comes to defending his own box.
Wolves also have a decent defensive-midfield option in Joao Gomes, who has been close to ever-present in the middle of the pitch. The Brazilian is on the radar of Champions League clubs, however, with links to Atletico Madrid and Manchester United among others making it an ambitious one for a club like Leeds.
A position yet to be identified is left wing-back, with natural competition and cover needed for the brilliant Gabriel Gudmundsson. Leeds have been previously linked with interest in Hugo Bueno who at 23, still has plenty of room to develop and improve alongside the more experienced Sweden international currently occupying the left side in Farke’s squad.