00:00With Leeds United returning to the Premier League, it is set to be a busy transfer window at Elland Road.
00:07And whilst bringing new players into Leeds United for next season will be important during this summer transfer window,
00:14maintaining a core group of players that are already within the squad is vitally important to maintaining the unity and togetherness that Daniel Farker has built within the club.
00:24Certainly, Leeds United do not want to break that apart and lose what they had in the Championship last season that was so vital in gaining them promotion.
00:32We can now go to Lee Sowett of the Yorkshire Evening Post, who's been looking at Leeds United's retained list to see which players have already departed the club this summer and who will be staying,
00:42as well as whose loan spells have come to an end and will also be departing, and whether they will be trying to come back to Leeds or whether Leeds themselves will be looking to bring them back at some point during the summer transfer window.
00:54So, Lee, lots to discuss so far this summer already in terms of who's already left the club and who might come in and also who they might want to bring back.
01:04So, there's a lot to discuss from Leeds United's perspective, especially given the size of the task that they have coming up next season in the Premier League.
01:11So, they've got to get this summer right. I think that's really crucial to point out.
01:15But, firstly, who's departed the club? Who's staying? And what does that say about whether summer will be going in terms of direction and what Leeds United will look to do as a club this season?
01:26And, of course, in the upcoming transfer window that opens next week. There's certainly a lot to talk about.
01:31Yeah, in terms of rubber stamp news, I suppose that's the main thing of late. It's a very strange one, really, compared to this time last year.
01:39And, obviously, this time last year, we were just getting over the playoff final defeat, and it's been a few quiet weeks, so to speak, as well as quiet as it's going to be on the Leeds United front.
01:48But I don't think anybody will be complaining about that this time around after what we experienced at Wembley.
01:53But, yeah, we've had the retained list coming out. And, to be honest, I mean, the main take-outs from it, really, were Sam Byron and Junior Firpo.
02:01So, they're the two, really, where we'll have to sort of wait and see what happens with those.
02:05I think with Junior Firpo, it obviously just comes down, really, I think, to what Leeds offer him, what deal they can sort for him, and also what else he has offered.
02:13Difficult one with Firpo, obviously, because last time in the Premier League, it didn't really happen for him.
02:17But, equally, you know, he did have injuries and, you know, a lot of disruptions in that season.
02:21And he's obviously had a fantastic season in the Championship, you know, with a hat full of assists and, you know, real attack and input.
02:28Obviously, there'll be question marks about what he can do defensively.
02:30But, you know, I think he'd be, you know, you don't want to disrupt the team too much.
02:34Obviously, you need to build the team, build around the team.
02:36And I think most people would probably want him to stay, you know, if not as a starting option, then very much as a squad option.
02:41So, we'll wait and see what happens with him.
02:43And the same with Sam Byron, who's always been, you know, extremely, extremely reliable when he comes in.
02:47And, obviously, different one with Byron because Firpo is, was first choice left back very much so.
02:52Whereas Byron, obviously, slots in on either of those full-back positions.
02:56Obviously, the other, well, the one real exit was Joshua Ghiavogi.
02:59And I think people will look at that maybe initially and think, well, he didn't play very much.
03:03But it does feel like quite a big departure, that one, because there's no doubt about it that even though he only had, I think it was 57 minutes of Championship football,
03:10there's no doubt you can tell how much of a, you know, how much of a leader he was and the influence he had on the group.
03:15You could just tell from the sheer number of messages that players put out once his departure was confirmed.
03:20I think he's a real experienced head in there at a time when it's quite a young group.
03:24So, even though he's maybe someone who, like, you know, might not need replacing as such in terms of the minutes on the pitch,
03:29I think probably it does leave a bit of a void in terms of, like, the leadership group and stuff.
03:33So, obviously, the players will all be a year older now, you know, led by Ampadu and whatnot.
03:37But that does still feel like a big void, nevertheless, that obviously will have to be filled to some degree.
03:42And then, obviously, we had the news, as we all knew, that Solomon and Rothwell, obviously, we hope, very much hope.
03:48I mean, I think fans are liking both back, but Solomon especially, absolute standout player.
03:52And I suppose we should also say Jack Harrison as well, which is very much, that's one that's happened this week,
03:56in terms of him, as it stands, returning from Everton to Leeds.
04:00And, you know, I think it's difficult to imagine a way back for him.
04:03But, I mean, you sort of, I think people probably thought the same about Brendan Aronson.
04:07So, you never say never in this game, do you?
04:10And, obviously, he was only on loan at Everton.
04:12That's very much one to watch as well.
04:13So, yeah, bits and bobs happening, obviously, as we'll come to.
04:16Pre-season friendly is starting to get arranged.
04:18And, as is always the case of any club, not a day goes by where Leeds aren't linked with one or two,
04:24or not one or two, several players.
04:26And this summer, as we'll come on to now, is very much all about the recruitment.
04:30So, yeah, but we're getting there bit by bit.
04:33But, certainly, and Joshua Guiavogi is the one that's definitely, you know, that has gone,
04:37who was a Leeds player and obviously goes with everybody's best wishes.
04:39So, yeah, we're getting there bit.
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