Leeds United have plenty of time ahead of them to dip into the summer transfer window to bolster their options ahead of a season in the Premier League.
The Whites know that they will have to recruit well to avoid the drop in their first year back in the top-flight, as the last six sides to go up have come straight back down again.
One player who does not appear to be on his way to Elland Road this summer, however, is winger Manor Solomon, who spent the 2024/25 season on loan in West Yorkshire.
Journalist Graeme Bailey told The Boot Room: “I am told that Solomon still thinks he can break into the first team at Tottenham. He has gained so much confidence from his spell at Leeds and now feels fully adapted to English football. He is a very interesting option, Spurs like him and are ready to let him prove himself during pre-season.”
Solomon produced 12 goals and ten assists in the Championship this season for Leeds to help them on their way to the league title, and this update suggests that he will not be joining on a permanent basis.
The other Premier League player who was on loan at Elland Road in the 2024/25 campaign was Joe Rothwell, and the club should not be looking to bring him back.
Why Leeds should not sign Joe Rothwell
The Whites should look elsewhere in the transfer market instead of attempting to bring the English whiz back from Bournemouth, because he is not suited to the physicality of the Premier League.
Rothwell arrived in West Yorkshire to provide valuable back-up in the central midfield positions for Daniel Farke in the 2024/25 campaign, and that is exactly what he did.
Appearances
36
Starts
24
Big chances created
4
Assists
4
Key passes per game
1.7
Pass accuracy
91%
As you can see in the table above, the 30-year-old maestro offered a reliable presence with the ball at his feet, completing 91% of his attempted passes, and provided creativity with his ability to assist his teammates.
However, Leeds will need different attributes when they are battling against relegation from the Premier League next season, and that is why the club should avoid a deal to bring him back.
In the 2023/24 Premier League season, Rothwell lost 53% of his overall duels and 100% of his aerial battles for Bournemouth across 11 appearances, whilst being dribbled past six times in three starts.
This suggests that he does not possess the physical attributes required to thrive in the top-flight, hence why the Cherries opted to loan him to the second tier, and Leeds are now being linked with a star who would be a huge upgrade in that position.
Leeds pushing to sign Premier League star
According to reports in France, Leeds United have identified West Ham United central midfielder Tomas Soucek as a target for the summer transfer window.
The report suggests that the West Yorkshire outfit are now ‘pushing’ to bring the Czech international over to Elland Road to bolster the manager’s options in the middle of the park.
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It is said that there is a chance that the former Slavia Prague star leaves the Hammers this summer, and the Whites are looking to potentially take advantage of that.
Leeds have added the 30-year-old titan to their list of targets and are seemingly set to pursue a deal for the midfielder, given that they are ‘pushing’ for him.
The report further claims that the Championship champions are looking for experienced options to bolster their efforts to stay in the Premier League, and Soucek – who is valued at £19m by Football Transfers – is a player who fits the bill perfectly.
Why Leeds should sign Soucek as a Rothwell upgrade
The midfield star has racked up 194 appearances in the Premier League in his career with the Hammers so far, and 245 appearances for the club in all competitions.
This shows that Soucek is an experienced player who has proven that he can perform on a consistent basis at the top level in England, as shown by how long his career at the London Stadium has been, which is not the case for Rothwell.
Soucek is also a proven goalscorer in the Premier League, with a return of 36 goals in his top-flight career, whilst Rothwell – who is also 30 – has never scored at that level.
Sky Sports commentator Andy Hinchcliffe described him as the most “dangerous” player in the box in the clip above, as he scored one of his nine Premier League goals this season against Wolves in December.
Appearances
35
xG
6.85
Goals
9
Duels won per game
5.0
Duel success rate
53%
Aerial duels won per game
2.9
Aerial duel success rate
57%
As you can see in the table above, Soucek also provides a level of physicality that Rothwell would not, as he wins duels at an efficient rate and is particularly impressive in the air.
As aforementioned, Rothwell did not win a single aerial battle in the 2023/24 season for Bournemouth in the Premier League, which shows that the West Ham star would be a major upgrade on him from an aerial perspective.
Soucek would add an imposing and physical presence to the Leeds midfield, with his ability to win duels and compete in the air, whilst the Bournemouth loanee would seemingly be a brittle option in the top-flight.
Therefore, hopefully, Leeds will win the race for the Czechia international this summer as a huge upgrade on Rothwell in the middle of the park, as he is a proven Premier League performer who can offer goals and physicality.
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Whereas, the Cherries outcast has not proven himself in the top-flight and does not offer enough physically to perform week-in-week-out at that level, which is why avoiding a deal for him in order to pursue Soucek would be a great move by the Whites.
