Rodrigo, Tyler Adams, Luis Sinisterra and Jack Harrison were arguably the four biggest departures of the summer and very likely four players who would have started in a best Whites XI in the Premier League, never mind in English football’s second tier.
Yet several of United’s summer signings have already impressed and there are two more yet to feature in Jaidon Anthony and Ilia Gruev who both joined the club too late to play a part in Saturday’s Championship hosting of Sheffield Wednesday.
Leeds also have six players still out injured and here we look at an idea of Daniel Farke’s new strongest Leeds line-up when everyone is fit and nine-man bench.
2. RB: Djed Spence
Whites boss Daniel Farke has a big decision to make at right back between long-established mainstay Luke Ayling and new Tottenham loanee Djed Spence. But put simply, Spence might just be too good to keep out of the team, the England under-21s international dazzling after coming on as an 81st-minute substitute for his Whites debut in the goalless draw against Sheffield Wednesday. It would be no surprise to see Spence and Ayling alternate somewhat. Photo: Jonathan Gawthorpe
3. CB: Liam Cooper
United's captain and main leader who is currently sidelined as he recovers from a ruptured plantar fascia. It's no guarantee that Cooper starts given the presence of other centre-back options Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Charlie Cresswell and with Ethan Ampadu and Luke Ayling as options there too but the sense would be that Cooper would make the strongest XI. Photo: David Rogers
4. CB: Joe Rodon
Pascal Struijk has made a decent start to the season and it could be argued that Stuijk next to either Cooper or Rodon would be the best bet but Wales international Rodon has settled in seamlessly and him and Cooper might end up being the first-choice pairing in the heart of the defence. Photo: George Wood
5. LB: Sam Byram
Byram, Junior Firpo or Jamie Shackleton, take your pick, with Leo Hjelde or Struijk as other options. Firpo is likely to launch a strong challenge to be first choice left back when he returns from injury but Byram has looked decent in the position so far and is probably 'first choice' left back as it stands although Shackleton is very much pushing his claim for that mantle too. Photo: George Wood
6. CM: Ethan Ampadu
Farke is heading for a big midfield headache but a good one upon the arrivals of Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev. That said, Ampadu's transition to the Whites side has been smooth sailing - cool, calm and collected - often dictating and starting moves - and it's hard to see him not being in the first choice XI. Probably just a case of who partners him. Photo: George Wood