A number of players have already left Leeds United following relegation from the Premier League, but who are the Leeds transfer targets?
They’ve pulled off one major signing by snapping up young defender Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has also confirmed that goalkeeper Karl Darlow will be joining the club as long as he passes a medical, but there will need to be several more arrivals as Daniel Farke looks to fill holes in his squad following all the departures.
Leeds kick off their Championship campaign on Sunday, August 6th against Cardiff City which leaves not a lot of time to bring in fresh faces and get them integrated into the group. However, the club’s transfer activity is likely to continue throughout August and the squad may have a very different look to it by the time the window closes.
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Who are the Leeds transfer targets?
Here are some of the players Leeds are looking at as they target an immediate return to the top flight.
Charlie Taylor – Defender – Burnley
Given that Leeds has started the 23/24 season in rather ropey fashion, having conceded in all three games, it’s clear they need to sort their defensive ranks out. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that one of the Leeds transfer targets right now is Charlie Taylor – a defender that plays for Burnley. At the moment, Taylor is rumored to be worth around £5 million, which is a figure that Leeds could stretch to if necessary. And let’s not forget, Charlie Taylor was a Leeds United man before he moved to Burnley. He was at the club from 2011 to 2017, and while yes, he was loaned out much of the time during that period, he was still technically a Leeds player for the entire time.
Therefore, if Leeds were able to meet the £5 million fee that Taylor might command, I’ve every confidence that this is a deal that could be completed before August ends. And let’s be honest, Leeds needs a player that is experienced at this level that can help them to rebuild their defense.
Josh Brownhill – Midfielder – Burnley
If the recent transfer rumors are true, which I believe they are, it looks like Leeds United might be swooping in to secure the services of Josh Brownhill from Burnley. Of course, this is the second Burnley man who features on the list of Leeds transfer targets for August. Logically, one wouldn’t assume that both deals will be completed, but you just never know when it comes to the summer transfer period. As for the reasons that Leeds are looking into Brownhill, he is an experienced midfielder at 27 years of age, and he could well be signed for somewhere in the region of £9 million.
Furthermore, if you look at Brownhills statistics from last season, with 7 goals and 8 assists, these are the kind of numbers that Leeds desperately need. I say this based on the assumption that Leeds will be hoping to make an immediate return to the Premier League, which I’m sure will be the goal of the club for the 23/24 season. And there is one additional reason why Leeds would benefit massively from this signing.
Because Brownhill is an incredibly energetic player, he will put every effort into getting back to help in defense if required. This could be critical for Leeds until they are able to figure out how to get the best out of their current defenders.
Brandon Williams – Defender – Man Utd
That’s right, it’s back to the defenders again! Brandon Williams is currently a Man Utd defender who plays as a left-back. However, it looks as though the Red Devils have no intention of making Brandon Williams a permanent or even regular first-team player. So it’s perfectly logical to assume that Williams would be looking at opportunities to leave the club, even if it means moving down a division to the Championship. Additionally, Farke and Williams have worked together in the past while Farke was the manager at Norwich City.
So Farke clearly knows what Williams is capable of, and I’m sure he will be signing his praises to the board to allow an offer to be put forward. Not only that, but if Brandon Williams did sign for Leeds, it’s essentially a given that he would be playing regular football. And at 21 years of age, this is something that every promising footballer wants.
Mason Holgate
Leeds are reportedly eyeing up Mason Holgate as they seek defensive reinforcements. They may have to battle with fellow recently relegated side Southampton for the signing of the Everton man though.
Yorkshire-born Holgate came through the ranks at Barnsley before moving to Everton in 2015. A former England U21 international, Holgate broke into the Everton first team on a regular basis during the 2019/20 season and was a regular fixture for The Toffees for three seasons. However, he fell out of favour last season with Sean Dyche, making just 5 Premier League starts and the 26-year-old may need to drop down a level in order to reignite his career.
Gustavo Hamer
The man at the very top of Leeds’ shopping list appears to be Coventry City midfielder Gustavo Hamer. He wouldn’t come for cheap but would be a real marquee signing were they to pull it off.
Hamer reached double figures for goals and assists during the 2022/23 Championship as Coventry reached the Play-Off Final. He was one of just three players in the division to achieve that feat and would be a major asset to Leeds’ promotion push.
Coventry don’t want to sell but the Brazilian-born player has just one year to run on his present deal at the West Midlands club and has so far refused to put pen to paper on a longer-term deal. That has alerted Leeds to his situation but there could also be Premier League interest in Hamer with Fulham believed to be keen.
Glen Kamara
One potential Leeds signing that looks a bit further along is that of Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara. The Whites are reportedly in advanced talks to sign the 27-year-old who has spent nearly five years in Glasgow.
The Finland international was a key part of the Rangers side that reached the 2022 Europa League Final. However he has fallen down the pecking order under Michael Beale, only making 12 starts in the Scottish Premiership last season.
Han-Noah Massengo
Another possible midfield target for Leeds United is Han-Noah Massengo. He may only be 22, but he has already clocked up nearly 100 Championship appearances for Bristol City meaning he’s no stranger to the demands of English second-tier football.
Massengo spent the second half of last season in Ligue 1 on loan at Auxerre but his contract at Ashton Gate is now up, meaning he’s available as a free agent this summer. The energetic midfielder has already reportedly turned down a move to Premier League new boys Burnley but could be tempted by a switch to Elland Road if Farke is willing to offer him a key role in his plans.
