Amid a raft of exits, Joe Rodon had been United’s sole new signing of the summer upon his £10m permanent switch from Tottenham Hotspur but Leeds have now bagged their second and third arrivals of the current transfer window.
Experienced keeper Alex Cairns put pen to paper on a move from Salford City on Monday and Joe Rothwell then sealed a season-long loan move from Bournemouth three days later on Thursday evening.
Two ‘new’ faces as a third one returns and with six weeks of the summer transfer window still remaining. Brenden Aaronson will also be back with Leeds for their new promotion bid following last season’s loan exit relegation release clause to Union Berlin. Whether that also proves the case with Max Wober and Rasmus Kristensen remains to be seen.
Archie Gray, meanwhile, has been the clear standout departure in leaving Leeds for Tottenham for £40m. Charlie Cresswell and Jamie Shackleton are among the other departures with everything already leading to a much changed new best XI and bench, our idea of which we run through here.
7. CM: Glen Kamara
No Archie Gray now but Kamara, Ilia Gruev or new boy Joe Rothwell, take your pick. Rennes want to sign Kamara but Leeds are very keen to keep him and he might just about be the pick although Rothwell will surely emerge as a very live contender, especially considering the added goal threat he could bring from deep midfield. Hard one to call. Photo: George Wood
8. LW: Crysencio Summerville
The easiest call of the lot, the Championship's 2023-24 player of the year over whom each passing day of the summer transfer window feels like a success as another day ticked off where the star Dutch winger is still at Leeds. Photo: George Wood
9. RW: Dan James
A hard call between James, Willy Gnonto and the returning Brenden Aaronson who is also a live option for the no 10 role but James answered the big question mark of end product in no uncertain terms last season and then returned from injury to strong effect at the end of the campaign. Maybe just about gets the nod. Photo: Alex Burstow
10. ACM: Georginio Rutter
Brighton had a nibble with a £30m bid but the fact that Leeds turned that down speaks volumes. The returning Aaronson provides another new no 10 option but Rutter is a straightforward call in the front line and could also play as a 9. Photo: Tim Markland
11. ST: Patrick Bamford
Seemingly another three-way battle between Bamford, Joel Piroe and young star Mateo Joseph who looks well worth a run in the starting XI but the experience of Bamford possibly makes him just about the first choice call. Photo: Alex Burstow
12. Sub: Karl Darlow
Alex Cairns has been added to the goalkeeping mix and could make plenty of benches due to EFL homegrown and club developed player rules but Darlow still appears the second choice keeper. Photo: George Wood