How Leeds United could line-up in the Championship with no new signings

George Dempsey
26 June 2023

Stuart Dallas of Leeds United in March 2022

Planet Sport takes a look at the ready-made XI Leeds United could field in the Championship this season.

Why so glum, Leeds fans? You've got your wish with new owners, a new manager and a raft of underperforming players leaving Elland Road.

Premier League football was fun to a point, but arguably, the ship started sinking the moment Marcelo Bielsa was sacked without a sensible contingency plan.

Wholesale departures were to be expected. We want to focus on the positives and look at what Leeds United do have and how they could line up in the Championship.

With a transfer budget of zero pennies, Planet Sport has put together a talented team capable of making a promotion push from Leeds' current crop.

Formation: 4-2-3-1

It's modern and adaptable. Most managers play a version of it and it allows the fans to see exactly what they want from their team.

Our ball playing centre-backs will be assisted by our 6ft 4 destroyer in the central defensive midfield role while the fullbacks bomb forward.

The front four will be able to squeeze the play and press high, bringing high-intensity football back to Elland Road.

Joel Robles

Big, strong and very experienced. He could provide a calming presence in the Leeds goal which would be appreciated right now.

He may not be the sharpest but it just feels like this is a player you can rely on to not make mistakes.

Cody Drameh, Charlie Cresswell, Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk

Not only is the criticism directed at Liam Cooper extremely unfair, but we'd go as far as to say there's been something more secure about Leeds when he plays.

It's also a backline that needs some experience because your other options are Leo Hjelde or Diogo Monteiro, so it's one last hurrah for Liam.

Either of those youngsters could emerge as a capable Championship player this season and in reality, Leeds will sign a left-back, but Struijk will do for now. Ryan Manning, anyone?

Cody Drameh has been the standout player at Cardiff and Luton and Charlie Cresswell became a crucial player for Millwall.

IF Max Wober stays then you'd have to consider partnering him with the less experienced Cresswell while using Cooper as an able deputy.

Darko Gyabi and Stuart Dallas

Darko Gyabi is 6ft 4 but he's also extremely quick. Glimpses of him in pre-season and the FA Cup outing at Cardiff show that he's calm, controlled and an efficient passer.

Playing that role on your own is extremely difficult and requires a top-level player, such as Kalvin Phillips. However, Gyabi looks to have that quality.

Leeds fans will hope that Stuart Dallas is the same player because he could be like a new signing. He's the perfect partner for Gyabi in the midfield two.

His lung-busting runs from box to box will strike the perfect balance of supporting Gyabi and the full-backs - a position he's played - while helping overload the opposition in the final third.

Dan James, Georginio Rutter, Luis Sinisterra; Joe Gelhardt

We know Rodrigo Moreno, Jack Harrison and, probably, Willy Gnonto will leave. Crysencio Summerville is likely to go, while Luis Sinisterra and Giorgino Rutter are tricky to call.

On paper, they're both unbelievable players who would never drop down to this level. But they're here now and the latter has shown no form, so they're our wildcards.

In Dan James, Rutter, Sinisterra and Joe Gelhardt, you have a quartet of players each capable of scoring 10 goals in a Championship season.

If Sinisterra finds his best form then we'd expect 20-30 goal involvements from him alone.

Joe Gelhardt has developed a lot during his time at Sunderland. They wanted him to play off of Ross Stewart but he suffered a season ending injury.

His stature doesn't lend itself to playing the role they ask of Stewart, but he gave it a good go. We think it's likely he'll play off a nine or provide backup to a new signing.

The glaring omission from this front four is a number ten. They look like they could press teams back to 2022 and provide outrageous moments, but can they pass?

Leeds never replaced Pablo Hernandez and they'll need to do exactly that. Gustavo Hamer is an obvious choice, while Ilias Chair and Jon Swift also fit the role. Or Leeds could opt to look abroad.

Do you think this team would finish in the top six?

READ MORE: Leeds United transfer news: Whites interested in 41-goal Championship striker