Leeds United can officially confirm their Premier League survival with victory over Tottenham Hotspur this Monday, and with three games to spare, it would be an excellent achievement.
Daniel Farke has gone from a man under pressure to the man to beat at Elland Road, with his side on an impressive run of six games without defeat in the Premier League.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke celebrates after the match
It is certainly a strong foundation to build on, starting with a big-money arrival.
Leeds hold talks to sign £35m star
The 49ers backed Farke with several new additions last summer, with Anton Stach and Dominic Calvert-Lewin the picks of the bunch.
Now, with Premier League safety almost secured, the American owners have set their sights on becoming more than just a side pushing for survival.
It’s certainly a project worth joining these days, too. Those at Elland Road have set the blueprints for avoiding the drop at the first time of asking and whilst second-season syndrome is deadly in these parts, Farke will have every belief in his side if the right signings arrive.
Ao-Tanaka-Leeds
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With that said, it’s a midfield star who could be first through the door. It would seem that’s the priority for the 49ers, given the potential departure of Ao Tanaka. As such, they’ve also set their sights on Hidemasa Morita.
According to TEAMTalk, Leeds have held advanced discussions over a deal to sign Morita this summer as he prepares to leave Sporting as a free agent.
Hidemasa-Morita
Hidemasa Morita
The report does also state that Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Andre has been discussed by club officials in-person when the two teams faced each other late last month, with the Brazilian potentially up for grabs for a fee of around £35m.
That would match their current club-record fee for Georginio Rutter, hence the rival interest in Morita as a bargain alternative, although he could well prove worth the investment.
Why Leeds should prioritise Andre over Morita
The Brazilian has enjoyed a solid campaign, despite Wolves’ relegation, and remains one of their standout stars. Alongside a number of others, he’s a strong contender to leave the club rather than drop down to the Championship next season.
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Picking Premier League experience should certainly sit near the top of Leeds’ priority list, and thus, instead of focusing on Morita, the Yorkshire club would be best served spending big and signing Andre from Wolves.
The 24-year-old is younger and is crucially Premier League proven – something that is invaluable in the top flight.
In spite of Wolves’ relegation, Andre has been excellent out of possession this season. The South American has made almost 200 recoveries throughout the current campaign.
Only Elliot Anderson has made more, which perfectly sums up the level that he’s operating at. Described as “dominant” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, Andre would arguably be the first midfield destroyer that Leeds have had since Kalvin Phillips.
And it was with Phillips that they reached the top half of the table.
So, whilst £35m may seem steep at a club record, Leeds would soon see that fee paid back in full by the midfielder’s performances next to Stach at the heart of their side.
morita-sporting
Compare that to Morita, who can only boast experience and his bargain price over Andre, and it’s clear that the 49ers would eventually pay for taking the cheaper option.
At 30 years old, the Japanese midfielder would also only provide a short-term solution. In two years’ time, the last thing that Leeds need is to face the same problem that they’re trying to solve this season, when Andre’s price may well have doubled elsewhere.
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