How Leeds United could field a nearly £100m frontline next season without making a single new signing

And given that they were the only team not to return to the Premier League at the first attempt, it will happen again when the season starts in August. The fact that all three promoted clubs went straight back down is also a contributing factor.

According to Squawka, Luton Town spent just £20m on strengthening their squad last summer, a figure actually less than Leeds’ around £27m despite relegation.

Sheffield United, meanwhile, were slightly more at £43.8m, with Burnley perhaps Leeds’ biggest competition for the most expensive team, having spent over £90m, with even more many followers in January. That said, it will depend on who I can keep.

How Leeds can already field a front four worth almost £100m

Since Leeds’ play-off final defeat by Southampton at the end of last month, attention has turned to who will leave Elland Road this summer.

Immediately after that afternoon, Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray were all promoted for the exits.

Although the window doesn’t officially open until Friday, Leeds have already made their first significant move of the summer, with Brenden Aaronson now set to stay at the club.

Just a year after his £25m arrival from RB Salzburg, Aaronson left Leeds on loan last summer following relegation but now looks set to give West Yorkshire another try.

Aaronson immediately looks likely to be Leeds’ starting number 10 next season and could form a quarter of the front four worth just £100m without having to make a single signing.

Both Rutter and Dan James have reportedly pledged their futures to Leeds via Instagram and cost a combined fee of around £60.5m themselves. They could be Daniel Farke’s two first-choice players if Summerville and Gnonto leave.

In the middle of Farke’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, they lined up in a trio just behind Joel Piroe, who finished last season as Leeds’ first-choice number nine.

Piroe originally cost £10.5m from Swansea City last summer, taking the combined total to an incredible £96m, quite a remarkable total for a Championship side in their second season after relegation.

Despite being worth around £100m, the front four are not good enough for Leeds

While on paper it’s clearly a stronger front four than most clubs can field at this level, it still doesn’t quite feel right.

Summerville and Gnonto provided so much flair and goals last season that they aren’t really replaced by the names in the top four.

If he were to leave, Leeds would simply have to bring in at least one new winger, primarily one who prefers to play on the left, with plenty of star quality.

Piroe has also shown on several occasions that he is not the type of striker who can lead the line by himself and so a proper striker is also needed.

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