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.
13. Sub: Rasmus Kristensen
Whether Rasmus gets back into the mix or not remains to be seen but Leeds are not exactly blessed with an abundance of right back options at present so the Danish international is an obvious for the bench, at least, from the current squad. Photo: LISELOTTE SABROE
14. Sub: Max Wober (or Liam Cooper)
A similar scenario to Kristensen with question marks as to whether the Austrian international will be part of next season's squad of not. If he is, the defender who can play centre-back, left back or centre midfield will surely at the very least be on the bench. Question marks also surround the other obvious main alternative in club captain Liam Cooper who is now a free agent upon his contract expiring. It will be interesting how the situation pans out. Photo: Christian Hofer
15. Sub: Joe Rothwell
The newest recruit who could well emerge as a regular starter in centre midfield. Photo: LUFC
16. Sub: Ilia Gruev
The other established centre-midfield option though not forgetting rapidly emerging 17-year-old youngster Charlie Crew. Photo: Michael Regan
17. Sub: Brenden Aaronson
Back in the squad and that won't be everyone's cup of tea after last season's relegation release clause loan escape but worth remembering that Leeds paid £25m for him and that he is also now dropping down in class. The USA international could well emerge as a regular starter if his return goes well. Photo: Christian Kaspar-Bartke
18. Sub: Willy Gnonto
The other chief wing/attacking midfield option if Leeds can keep hold of him and another for whom you could argue the clear case to start. Photo: Steven Paston