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Leeds United news: A closer look at the likely summer outgoings if relegation becomes reality

Patrick Bamford

It seems unfair that a side that has provided so much entertainment across the last couple of seasons might get relegated - but that’s exactly the situation Leeds United find themselves in.

But this is no ordinary relegation-threatened side. Rarely has a team so dynamic and talented been in such danger.
Look at the other two sides going down, Norwich and Watford, they look like Championship sides. Leeds don't.
No side is too good to go down, obviously, but if we put this bad run of results down largely to injuries to key players and a reckless method of play, it leaves us with a really good set of players that have had one bad season.
Unlike most relegated sides, their squad is full of players many other clubs will want.
Relegation will likely see mass asset stripping at Elland Road, the squad filleted of all its talent.

Manchester giants considering moves for Kalvin Phillips

Kalvin Phillips is the jewel in the Leeds crown, worth many many millions of pounds and he may be on the move anyway, possibly to bitter rivals Manchester United or Manchester City, though you fear for talented footballers going to Old Trafford and being crushed by United's innate crapness.

He has a £25million release clause if Leeds get relegated. Aston Villa are rumoured to be prepared to pay £60million for him.

Barcelona weighing up summer Raphinha swoop

Raphinha already has one foot in Barcelona and is all but gone already. Patrick Bamford, if he ever gets fit again, has proven himself to be a good top-flight striker, and many clubs need one of those.

Liam Cooper has had eight years at Leeds United and played 243 games for them.
He's an experienced central defender, now 30, who has not looked in any way out of place in the Premier League, so will he really want to go down and start the fight for promotion all over again?
Not if a better offer comes in.
Luke Ayling and Adam Forshaw are also both 30 - do they want to return to fight once more in the Championship if a route out to a top-flight club is available?
The same question can be asked of Dan James, a player who surely considers himself too good to play in the second tier.
It is also hard to see Rodrigo playing in the Championship when he was brought into Leeds for 30million Euros to play in the top flight.
Diego Llorente has had 10 seasons in La Liga and the Premier League, is he going to want to fight it out in the muck and nettles at Millwall or Blackpool next year? Unlikely.
Robin Koch was signed to play in the top flight and is now a full international, hardly Championship material, and he'll have suitors in Europe, especially Germany.
Mateusz Klich did well in the second tier for Leeds last time, but is now 31. He may want to stay, but if he went to new pastures after five years at Elland Road, no-one would be surprised.

Junior Firpo came from Barcelona last summer and hardly looks like a left-back who would thrive in the more physically gruelling Championship.

Jack Harrison may feel some loyalty to the club he helped get promoted, but he's played well for most of the season and would raise a decent fee if sold, so must be considered to be another viable transfer.
Stuart Dallas, so long a mainstay for Leeds, would be a dependable experienced purchase for a newly-promoted club.

Liverpool lure for emerging talent Joe Gelhardt

Even 20-year-old Joe Gelhardt, clearly an excellent prospect, may find himself being developed away from Leeds United, possibly even at the club he supports, Liverpool.

One of two players can be cherry picked from the Watford and Norwich squads, but virtually the whole Leeds first team could easily be relocated away from Elland Road to other top-flight sides across England and Europe.
It seems more than likely that a squad so well-assembled by Marcelo Bielsa will be decimated over the summer.
On the upside, if they do sell most of the first team it will generate a lot of money, the sort of money which would allow Jesse Marsch or his successor plenty of funds to rebuild.
Even if they don't get promoted, the squad will need a major overhaul. Either way, the team they field in August is likely to look very different to the one they finish this season with.
READ MORE: Man Utd top Premier League table of final-game results, while Leeds can take comfort from their spot

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