Predicted position: 12th (Note: this ranking reflects the average forecast from the panel rather than Louise Taylor’s individual view)
Last season’s position: 14th
Prospects
The outlook is encouraging. A club’s second Premier League campaign after promotion is often considered especially challenging, but Daniel Farke’s team appear well equipped to avoid that familiar pattern. The core of the squad is impressively strong and has been enhanced by the club-record £40m arrival of James Trafford from Manchester City, along with Bosnia and Herzegovina central defender Tarik Muharemovic, signed from Sassuolo for £34m.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fitness could be crucial. The Leeds striker was almost impossible to contain at his best last season, helping the club secure a respectable 14th-place finish. This year, Calvert-Lewin and the other attacking players should receive better service from gifted playmaker Harry Wilson, who joined on a free transfer from Fulham.
Leeds ultimately stayed up despite an uncertain opening to the campaign that had placed Farke under considerable pressure by November. A move to a system broadly resembling 3-5-2 produced a dramatic improvement. Based solely on results from the beginning of December, Leeds would have ranked seventh during the second half of the Premier League season. Although friendly results are not always reliable indicators, their strong displays against accomplished opponents are still noteworthy. Farke said the preparation period had increased the squad’s confidence.
Farke wants to move Leeds forward, but he is balancing that ambition with realism. He believes talk of European qualification and silverware must not distract the club from remaining modest and focused. Leeds have finished no higher than ninth in the Premier League over the past 25 years, so progress must be gradual. The manager recognises the risks associated with a second season after promotion but remains optimistic about the campaign ahead.
Off-field picture
Elland Road may be ageing, but it retains a remarkable atmosphere and is now set for an extensive transformation led by the club’s owners, 49ers Enterprises, the investment division connected to the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. The long-awaited redevelopment will raise capacity from 37,792 to 53,000, helping Leeds expand commercial revenue and operate with greater flexibility under football’s financial regulations. Reducing the substantial waiting list for season tickets is another major objective. The stadium is expected to remain fully available on match days while construction continues, with the finished venue intended to become the focal point of a broader regeneration scheme. However, repeated delays to the city council’s proposed tram network remain a concern. Public transport in this heavily congested area of Leeds is already inadequate, which could create serious match-day difficulties once the stadium becomes larger.
Owner-fan relationship
The relationship is generally positive. After experiencing several inconsistent ownership regimes, supporters have welcomed the stability, professionalism and long-term direction provided by California-based 49ers Enterprises. The redevelopment of Elland Road, Trafford’s arrival for a club-record fee and the noticeable growth in commercial income all underline the owners’ ambitions. The senior leadership group, including chair Paraag Marathe, managing director Robbie Evans and sporting director Adam Underwood, is widely viewed as capable, pragmatic and aware of the need to remain within the game’s spending restrictions.
The manager
Farke describes himself as mostly someone who enjoys coffee and cake on the sofa, with a small but intense competitive side. The 49-year-old economics graduate initially planned to work as a sporting director before building a career that included playing in Germany’s lower divisions and managing Norwich. He is a thoughtful, complex personality known for his humour and enthusiasm for literary fiction. By guiding newly promoted Leeds to 14th place and an FA Cup semi-final last season, he moved beyond the unfair perception that his career consisted mainly of winning promotion and then battling relegation. Farke, who has professional connections with Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, considers himself a football romantic who understands that ideals must be balanced with practical demands. His preferred approach suits possession-dominant teams, but he is also prepared to adapt whenever circumstances require it.
Star signing
Muharemovic, a 23-year-old left-footed central defender, delivered excellent performances during pre-season. The £34m recruit from Serie A has added strength, measured aggression, composure in possession and high-quality distribution to Farke’s back line. Leeds supporters particularly enjoyed seeing him overpower Sunderland’s imposing Dutch striker Brian Brobbey during a friendly and have already nicknamed the defender the Bosnian King. After helping Sassuolo earn promotion from Serie B, Muharemovic played an important role in their mid-table Serie A campaign last season. His ability to operate in either a three-player or four-player defence makes him a potentially outstanding addition, while Wilson’s arrival should also improve the team’s attacking options.
Set for a breakthrough
Signing Trafford represents an impressive piece of business for Leeds. The 23-year-old England goalkeeper, currently Jordan Pickford’s deputy in Tuchel’s national squad, excelled for Burnley in the Championship and could reasonably feel he deserved more than a backup role at Manchester City last season. His confidence with the ball at his feet should strengthen Farke’s preferred style, while his complete skill set and calmness in demanding situations may earn Leeds several valuable points. The Cumbrian farmer’s son, who still helps his family during lambing season when possible, now has an ideal opportunity to demonstrate his full ability.
World Cup impact
Despite ending the domestic season strongly for Leeds, versatile forward Noah Okafor featured for only 25 minutes as a substitute against Algeria during Switzerland’s run to the quarter-finals, where Argentina eliminated them. His selection had prompted some surprise because of an earlier disagreement with Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin, and his limited involvement suggested he had not completely regained the manager’s confidence. Brenden Aaronson appeared once for the United States during their journey to the last 16, but still enjoyed a memorable summer away from the pitch. The attacking midfielder briefly departed the team’s pre-tournament camp in late May to attend his long-planned wedding to Milana D’Ambra before returning as a married man.
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