Darren Bent says Leeds should “definitely” sign an “extraordinary” striker if they win promotion against Southampton

A win for Leeds would help them secure next season’s Premier League place at the first time of asking. Defeat, however, would send them to another year of Championship football.

These 90 and possibly 120 minutes of football will effectively dictate Leeds’ summer. 49ers Enterprises have admitted key sales will be needed if they are not to fail and the £100m raising is said to be necessary.

On the other hand, promotion would make for a much more interesting summer, as it would focus more on who’s in as opposed to who’s out.

Leeds have already been linked with a number of players should they win promotion, including upcoming free agent Marius Wolf in the last 24 hours.

Kalvin Phillips is another who appears to be a real target at Elland Road and these are names of the caliber that Leeds simply could not attract if they remained a Championship club.

Speaking on talkSPORT last night, pundit Darren Bent believes there is one player all newly promoted clubs should be targeting this summer – Ben Brereton Diaz.

Brereton Diaz spent the second half of the season on loan at Sheffield United from Villarreal, where he scored an impressive six goals in 14 appearances for what was one of the worst teams in Premier League history.

Bent believes he is a no-brainer for any of the promoted sides due to his impressive goal tally while at the Blades.

He said: “I like Ben Brereton Diaz. If they’re a newly promoted team going up, he’s definitely one I’d look at because his movement is good. He got six out of 14. Almost one out of two. At Sheffield United. Come on.

“He went to Villarreal, he didn’t really play and then he went back to Sheffield United. He’s definitely one if it’s Ipswich, Leeds or Southampton. I think so, he’s definitely, I’d say, yeah (too good for the championship).”

Leeds have already been linked with Brereton Diaz

Brereton Diaz is a player who has been linked with Leeds for several seasons now, although his free transfer to Villarreal 12 months ago ended that.

However, the “extraordinary” 25-year-old was barely given a chance in Spain, which is why he returned to England, all on loan, so soon after.

Leeds never had a realistic chance of signing Brereton Diaz in January, but according to journalist Ben Jacobs, he was already on the club’s radar before this summer.

He reported a few months ago that he is someone Leeds could target if they win promotion. Bent’s wish could come true if the Whites beat Southampton.

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