Leeds United will have a better idea of how their summer will look after Sunday’s match against Southampton.
Leeds are set to face the Saints at Wembley in the Championship play-off final as the two sides compete for the last remaining place in next season’s Premier League.
For whoever is defeated this weekend, it will consign them to a second consecutive season of second-tier football having both been relegated together 12 months ago.
From Leeds’ perspective, many of their players left on loan last summer after going down, and 49ers Enterprises have acknowledged that would not be able to happen again. Instead, key players would have to be sold.
On the other hand, if Leeds were to go up, they would be shopping in a far more ambitious market, as they look to build a squad capable of staying in the Premier League.
Leeds ready to make £20m move for James McAtee if promoted
Leeds have already been linked with a number of potential targets in the event they beat Southampton on Sunday, one of which includes soon-to-be free agent Marius Wolf.
Gent centre-back Jordan Torunarigha is also someone Leeds are looking at, while a sensational return could also be on the cards for Kalvin Phillips.
And according to Give Me Sport, both Championship play-off finalists have set their sights on signing Manchester City starlet James McAtee should they come out on top.
The report states City are willing to listen to offers of around £20 million for McAtee, who has spent the last two seasons on loan at Sheffield United.
It is said that both clubs are optimistic of their chances at winning the race for McAtee if they win promotion, with the 21-year-old having another two years left to run on his deal at City.
McAtee scored nine goals and provided three assists during Sheffield United’s Championship promotion campaign in 2022/23, in what was his first full season in senior football.
He found things tougher in the Premier League last term with just three goals and three assists, but was part of one of the worst sides the division has ever seen.
City have made a name for themselves in producing some top young talent over the last few years, perhaps none more so than Phil Foden.
However, it is the eye-watering amount they have made in academy sales which has been the most impressive. Cole Palmer, Shea Charles and Carlos Borges are among those to have left for big money having barely had a chance in the first team at City.
And it appears as though McAtee could be the next to do so, despite the fact he was once likened to City legend David Silva by pundit Gary Neville back in November 2021 when he came on for his debut against Everton.
On Sky Sports commentary duty, Neville said: “It’s not an academy, it’s a cloning system. They’re like clones, they’re all the same. It’s almost like David Silva’s left them all behind!”
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