Leeds United: Transfers & Early Season Expectations TSS August 28, 2020 Leeds United 6 Comments Leeds United will head into the 2020/21 season believing that they can quickly establish themselves in the Premier League. The Whites were a class apart in the Championship last term and should be able to make their mark in the top flight if they can strengthen their squad this summer. With owner Andrea Radrizzani willing to back Marcelo Bielsa in the transfer market, this is an exciting time to be a Leeds fan. Read on as we look at the latest state-of-play on the transfer front at Elland Road and assess the club’s chances of making a strong start to the season. Rodrigo Signing a Statement of Intent Leeds needed to kick-off their big summer signings with a bang and they have certainly done that with the club record acquisition of Rodrigo from Valencia. For fans who enjoy betting on football, Rodrigo’s arrival is a sign that odds of 9/4 to finish in the top 10 this season could be extremely good value. The 29-year-old initially struggled to find his feet at Valencia, but eventually blossomed into one of the club’s biggest attacking threats. For a team that attacks quickly and works aggressively off the ball, Rodrigo has the right profile to be a huge hit at Elland Road. The Defensive Conundrum Leeds have been pushing hard to sign Ben White on a permanent basis following his successful spell on loan with the club last term. However, Brighton & Hove Albion have insisted that they will not sell White to a club they view as being a direct rival in the Premier League. Bielsa is believed to have set his sights on Freiburg centre-back Robin Koch and he would be an excellent addition to the club’s defensive options. Leeds face plenty of competition to secure the 24-year-old’s services, with Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Lazio and RB Leipzig all credited with an interest in the player. A Baptism of Fire for Leeds Despite Leeds’ transfromation under Bielsa and the subsequently high expectations, the club could not have been handed a tougher start to the new campaign. Reigning champions Liverpool dropped just two points at Anfield last season, and they will be eager to kick-off their defence of the title with a victory. The Reds started last season with a 4-1 home victory over newly promoted Norwich City and Leeds will hope to avoid a similar fate on September 12. However, Liverpool looked rusty as they laboured to a pre-season draw against Red Bull Salzburg earlier in the week and that should give Leeds belief that they can take something from the game. Important to Get Points on the Board It is vital that Leeds get their points tally ticking over during the early part of the season and the fixture list gives them hope of achieving that. Their first home game against fellow Premier League new-boys Fulham on September 19 is a golden opportunity to pick up three points. Leeds then head to Sheffield United the following Saturday, before welcoming Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers to Elland Road during the first half of October. A minimum seven-point return shouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility and would give Leeds the perfect platform to build from for the rest of the campaign. Early Season Expectations: While the games against Liverpool and City will be tough, their other early fixtures offer opportunities to get points on the board. With fixtures against Aston Villa (A), Leicester City (H) and Crystal Palace (A) to follow, Leeds may well find themselves close to the top 10 after the first eight games.