Leeds United are aiming to further establish in the Premier League next season. But like others around us such as Nottingham Forest, the spectre of huge transfer offers isn’t far away.
At Elland Road, there’s always been a belief that we belong at the top end of the Premier League. That was even true when we were languishing in League One.
However, bridging that gap from where we are now is incredibly difficult. That’s especially the case when any time you have a serious player on your hands, they’re wanted by bigger fish. It’s something Nottingham Forest have just experienced.
Leeds United watch on as Nottingham Forest agree £116million Elliot Anderson to Manchester City deal
After finishing clear of the relegation zone alongside Leeds in the end, Forest are facing another rebuild at the City Ground.
It was inevitable that they’d have to plan for life without Elliot Anderson. The 23-year-old has been one of the standout midfielders in the Premier League and is now heading to Manchester City.
David Ornstein reports a total agreement between the two clubs, with Forest set to receive an eye-watering £116million for his services.
As a result, it leaves Forest having to react to losing their best player, with their position in the league similar to United’s. A season flirting with relegation won’t want to be repeated under Vitor Pereira, and while they won’t have their talisman in midfield, they’ll have plenty of cash to source a replacement.
Amongst targets viewed as a potential replacement is Spurs’ Lucas Bergvall. The Swede has told the North London club he wants to leave this summer.
Leeds United must try avoid the pull of ‘elite’ clubs amidst Gabriel Gudmundsson, Chelsea speculation
It’s easier said than done trying to resist approaches from clubs higher up the supposed ‘food chain’. Anderson had outgrown Forest and is rightly heading to one of the best sides in the country.
For Leeds, the reality has been mapped out in this deal. We don’t have anyone near Anderson’s transfer value, of course. But, we do have players that are coveted by clubs who possess the ability to take them from us.
Namely, Gabriel Gudmundsson has been one of the best, or most consistent left-backs in the Premier League since joining us for £10million.
Now, he’s wanted by Chelsea. And, it leaves Leeds in a worrying position where you could easily see the Blues throwing absurd money at him. Something they tend to do with everyone.
Would Leeds be capable of resisting those offers, especially if Gudmundsson wishes to make that move? It’s hard to say.
I’m confident the 49ers will able to squeeze every last penny out of any transfer for a first team star, in the same way Forest have.
That being said, until we can safely say we’re back amongst those sorts of clubs, which will take some time, then there’s a bleak reality to having brilliant players.
On the flip side, you can see the progress Leeds are making in this project to re-establish ourselves. If we’d have tried to sign a player of Harry Wilson’s calibre from a Premier League rival, off the back of the season he just had, we’d have been rejected. Now, players see the vision.
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