Daniel Farke must navigate a high-stakes rebuild as core leaders cement their status, while established names and struggling stars face a definitive crossroads under the Elland Road lights.
Premier League survival has changed the outlook around Leeds United completely.
Only a few months ago, there were genuine fears surrounding another rebuild in the Championship. Instead, Daniel Farke now heads into the summer with top-flight football secured, an FA Cup semi-final appearance behind him and, perhaps most importantly, a much clearer understanding of which players can genuinely take the club forward.
And looking at the current Leeds squad, there is now a very obvious split emerging between the core Farke trusts and the players whose futures remain uncertain.
So, I went made my own tierlist, ranking each player, depending on whether I think they will be kept or sold.
The “Definitely Keep” category almost picks itself.
Ethan Ampadu has become the face of this Leeds side. The captain’s leadership, versatility and consistency made him one of the club’s most important players throughout the survival run-in, while Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon finally gave Leeds a settled and balanced defensive partnership once Farke switched to a back three.
Jayden Bogle also fully established himself as a key figure during the second half of the season. The move to wing-back transformed his campaign, allowing his athleticism and attacking qualities to flourish higher up the pitch.
Alongside them, players such as Gabriel Gudmundsson, Anton Stach and Karl Darlow became crucial pieces of the tactical structure that ultimately kept Leeds in the Premier League.
Darlow’s inclusion in the “Definitely Keep” section feels especially important given the uncertainty surrounding the goalkeeper position.
That uncertainty centres around Lucas Perri, who falls into the “Maybe Keep” category despite only arriving last summer. Initially brought in to become Leeds United’s long-term number one, Perri’s first season at Elland Road quickly became difficult. A series of inconsistent performances saw him lose his place to Darlow, whose calmness and experience immediately brought more stability to the side defensively.
Leeds could decide to move Perri on after just 12 months, particularly if there is interest elsewhere and Farke no longer views him as his long-term solution in goal.
However, there remains a possibility Leeds keep him for one more season.
The Brazilian still has age on his side, possesses clear technical quality and may yet improve after a difficult adaptation period. But if Leeds do persist with him, keeping Darlow feels absolutely essential.
The rest of the “Maybe Keep” category is equally fascinating because it includes players who have contributed this season, but whose long-term suitability remains debatable.
Brendan Aaronson falls firmly into that discussion.
To his credit, Aaronson has enjoyed a far stronger campaign than many supporters expected after returning to the club. His energy, pressing and work-rate suited Farke’s system far more effectively during the second half of the season, while his confidence visibly improved compared to previous struggles in England.
But despite that improvement, there remains a feeling Leeds could still upgrade in that area.
Aaronson’s stock is arguably higher now than it has been for some time, and Leeds may view this summer as the ideal opportunity to cash in while his value has recovered. The same argument could apply to Lukas Nmecha.
Nmecha has had a positive season overall and contributed important moments during Leeds’ survival push, but there is also a sense he could be sold for profit while his reputation remains strong. More importantly, he may want to move somewhere he is guaranteed to be first-choice regularly.
Leeds, meanwhile, may believe they can strengthen that position further.
Willy Gnonto perhaps represents the most difficult decision of the group.
Many expected this season to become Gnonto’s breakout Premier League campaign, but instead he often found himself as a bit-part player within Farke’s squad. Injuries, tactical changes and competition for places all limited his overall impact, and there remains a strong possibility he departs this summer.
Yet the talent is still obvious.
Gnonto remains one of the most naturally gifted attacking players at the club, and Leeds may still believe there is enough potential there to justify keeping him around for another year.
The “Maybe Let Go” category feels more straightforward.
Sebastiaan Bornauw has rarely featured and never truly established himself within the squad, while Daniel James’ situation increasingly feels like one where both player and club could benefit from a fresh start.
James’ injuries have disrupted his season significantly, but beyond fitness concerns there are still questions over whether he possesses the overall quality required consistently at Premier League level. A move back to the Championship, where his pace and directness would remain extremely effective, feels realistic.
Largie Ramazani also appears likely to move on after spending the season on loan at Valencia following a rapid fall out of favour under Farke. The Belgian winger still possesses qualities that could prove useful in certain systems, particularly in transition, but his lack of involvement suggests he no longer fits the manager’s long-term plans.
Then comes the “Definitely Let Go” category, where Leeds’ summer clear-out could become ruthless.
Illan Meslier’s Leeds career appears all but over. Remarkably, the goalkeeper failed to play a single game this season and is now out of contract, bringing an end to what once looked like a hugely promising spell at Elland Road.
Joe Gelhardt also looks set to leave permanently after spending the season on loan at Hull City. Once viewed as one of Leeds’ brightest young talents, his development has stalled badly over recent years.
Jack Harrison, currently on loan at Fiorentina, similarly feels unlikely to return, while Max Wober and Isaac Schmidt both spent the season away on loan at Werder Bremen and do not appear central to Leeds’ future plans.
Facundo Buonanotte’s situation is slightly different.
The Brighton loanee arrived in January with excitement surrounding his technical ability, but his Leeds career never truly started. Featuring for less than 90 minutes in total before disappearing from the squad entirely, the Argentine will return to Brighton at the end of the season after an underwhelming loan spell.
Joel Piroe’s decline has perhaps been one of the most disappointing stories of the campaign.
After arriving with a strong Championship reputation, the striker failed to score a single league goal this season and never looked suited to the tactical demands of Leeds’ evolving system. Mateo Joseph also appears likely to depart after spending the season on loan at Mallorca following his attempts to force a move away last summer.
Finally, Sam Byram’s time at Leeds looks to be winding down too.
The full-back made just four appearances all season, with only one coming in the Premier League during a late substitute appearance away at Arsenal in the second game of the campaign. Injuries and competition for places have left him firmly on the fringes.
The key for Leeds now is balance.
This does not need to become another chaotic rebuild. In fact, the opposite is true. Farke finally discovered a tactical structure and core group capable of competing at Premier League level during the second half of the season.
Now the challenge is refining the squad intelligently.
Because survival was only the beginning.