The Leeds United defender wanted in January will be available to sign on a free transfer this summer

Although Paraag Marathe has confirmed that funds will be available to spend, Leeds won’t be able to go crazy due to stricter PSR regulations in the EFL.

Before they can spend, Leeds also need to ensure they have paid the full £73m owed in unpaid transfer fees, and that will have to come through player sales.

Leeds are already halfway there thanks to the moves of Tyler Adams and Luis Sinisterra to Bournemouth in the current financial year, but there is still work to do.

January Leeds are targeting Paul Dummett to be available on a free this summer

Leeds may regret bringing in just one new face during the January transfer window after missing out on promotion to Ipswich Town and Southampton.

The two sides strengthened more than Leeds in the winter, with the arrival of Connor Roberts on loan from Burnley the only signing they made. He also looks set to return to Turf Moor.

This summer looks like it will be considerably busy, though, and the free agent market could certainly lend them a helping hand with plenty of quality available.

And one player Leeds have looked at who will be in the market for nothing next month is Paul Dummett, who will not be offered an extension from Newcastle United after 23 years as a youth and senior player.

Dummett was one of the defenders Leeds looked at but did not sign at the end of January as they looked to fill the void left by the injured Pascal Struijk, who missed the last five months of the season.

The 32-year-old made 213 appearances during his time at the Magpies, 151 of which came in the Premier League.

Leeds should stay away from Dummett this summer

Experience will certainly need to be added to Leeds’ squad this summer, with Daniel Farke often mentioning that they had one of the youngest groups of players in the division.

Leeds will lose both Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas at the end of their contracts next month, while Sam Byram’s future is also uncertain. Patrick Bamford could also be sold.

While Dummett would clearly bring a wealth of experience to Leeds, he is someone who should not be far away based on his injury record and lack of game time in recent years.

Dummett has played just 483 minutes of first-team football over the past three seasons and it would clearly take him some time to build up to match fitness.

Unlike last season, Leeds need to hit the ground running at the start of the campaign and Dummett simply won’t be able to do that.