Leeds United’s return to the Premier League after a 16 year absence couldn’t have gone much better for the West Yorkshire faithful.
Super boss Marcelo Bielsa led the Whites to a ninth-placed finish in a season characterised by high-tempo goal-fests.
Leeds cast off their image of 20th century win- at-all-costs merchants to become one of the most popular teams in the top flight, renowned for attractive football and some breathtaking drama.
And now, not surprisingly, the Premier League 2021 betting odds here at SBOTOP reckon the Yorkshire side will finish top 10 again at 151.00 to win the title and 31.00 to lift the FA Cup.
With less than four weeks to go until the new season starts, fans on the East side of the Pennine hills are desperate to see their heroes again, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic cruelly denied them of that delight in their return season.
In the meantime, the boss still has work to do to get his squad ready for action, and to bring in the new bodies he needs to ensure the Leeds will be ‘Marching on Together’ again in the new season.
Jack the lad is now a Leeds United player
Wide man Jack Harrison has already put pen to paper and committed his future to Leeds after a fantastic loan period at the club.
He’s scored 18 goals in 119 appearances for the Whites since his arrival on loan from Manchester City in 2018 and has become a firm fan-favourite at Elland Road.
That was a great start to the summer off the field. After wing-back Ezgjan Alioski declined the offer on the table, Leeds moved quickly to secure the signature of a like-for-like replacement in Barcelona’s Junior Firpo at a cost of £15-M on a four-year deal with a 20-per cent sell-on clause for the Catalans.
There was a lot of competition for the 24-year-old Spaniard and Leeds won as they were the fastest. Firpo has scored two goals in 24 appearances for the Blaugrana and he will certainly be a player to watch in the Premier League.
Who else is on Bielsa’s shopping list?
The head coach is on the lookout for reinforcements up front and in midfield and he also wants competition for goalkeeper Illan Meslier following the sale of Kiko Casilla to La Liga club Elche.
That problem seems to have been solved as Leeds have been tracking three keepers including Newcastle United’s Freddie Woodman and Levante’s Daniel Cardenas.
But Bielsa seems to have plumped for young Norwegian prospect Kristoffer Klaesson. The club is reported to have tabled a bid for the 20-year-old Valerenga stopper and hopes to get that one over the line before too long.
In midfield, there could be movement soon as it has recently emerged that Turkish international Okay Yokuslu is about to become available for an attractive price of £5-M.
The player spent the second half of last season at West Bromwich Albion as the Baggies improved, but has returned to Celta Vigo and the La Liga club seems happy to let the 27-year-old move on.
Yokuslu is a tough tacking player with 35 appearances for Turkey and he’d be a great addition to support some of Leeds more creative players, but Bielsa may have to move quickly again with Premier League rivals Crystal Palace monitoring the situation.
Out front, striker Patrick Bamford led the line brilliantly last season and was the fourth top scorer in the league with a fantastic return of 17 goals. But if he suffers injury or a lack of form, Leeds would be lacking a spearhead and that is something Bielsa will be acutely aware of.
There is an abundance of creative spark in this team with Harrison, Rodrigo, and Rafinha all capable of weighing in with goals and assists. But every Premier League team needs at least one striker who can score double figures year after year.
Former Leeds player Chris Wood has achieved that in his last four seasons at Burnley, but the Clarets won’t be prepared to let the New Zealand hitman go. Meanwhile, young Wales striker Tyler Roberts is yet to make a serious mark at Elland Road.
So Bielsa still has work to do.
Over the next four weeks, we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the very latest Premier League 2021 updates and all things Leeds United.
But if you can’t wait, we already have our odds and stats up for the opening round of fixtures and the Whites are currently at 5.22 to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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