Leeds United further cemented their spot in the Championship play-off positions on Saturday when they beat Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 at Elland Road, and they kept up their hopes of securing an automatic promotion spot too.
The Seagulls, who lie in second position, are now eight points ahead of Garry Monk’s side with eight matches of the season remaining, and with the south coast outfit losing three of their last five games, the race appears to be far from over.
The Whites are eight points ahead of seventh-placed Fulham too, and with both them and sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday losing at the weekend, it looks like only a barren run of form will deny the Yorkshire side a minimum top six finish.
If they did return to the top flight for the first time since 2004, Monk would know that he would make some changes to his squad in order for them to survive next season, with no room for sentiment.
Here are four Leeds players that will need to be replaced if they win promotion to the Premier League…
Luke Ayling
The 25-year-old quickly established himself as the club’s first choice right-back following a move from Bristol City last summer, but despite some solid performances, Garry Monk will likely look for an upgrade if Leeds were to win promotion.
While Ayling is good defensively, he doesn’t make much of an impact from an attacking sense – he has no goals and three assists in 35 Championship appearances this term – and could even struggle to win his spot back in the side because of an impressive showing from Gaetano Berardi after he missed the match against Brighton because of suspension.
Hadi Sacko
While he may only be at Leeds on a season-long loan deal from Sporting Lisbon, Garry Monk could look to sign a more consistent performer on the wing rather than complete a permanent deal for the 22-year-old if Leeds are a Premier League outfit next season.
While he still has plenty of time to improve, his total of two goals and four assists from 33 Championship appearances this term may not be enough to convince his manager that he should be a starter in the top flight.
Kemar Roofe
Despite costing Leeds United around £3m last summer following an outstanding goalscoring season with Oxford United, Roofe has struggled to make the same impact at Elland Road.
He didn’t net his first goal for the Whites until his 23rd appearance in all competitions for the club at the start of December, and the 24-year-old has added just two more league goals since then.
He has often found himself on the substitutes’ bench in recent times with the more experienced Pablo Hernandez preferred in the central attacking midfield role, and a spot in the starting XI would be even less likely if Leeds went up.
Souleymane Doukara
Considering he has rarely played as a striker because of the outstanding form of Chris Wood, Doukara’s return of five goals from 27 Championship appearances this term isn’t too shabby.
But with the 25-year-old sometimes looking a little less comfortable when he is played out wide by Garry Monk, the Leeds boss may look to strengthen his squad in the wide areas in the summer if the club wins promotion, and it could push the French-born forward further down the pecking order.
If he does end up exiting Elland Road, he will be remembered for the thunderous volley he scored against Sheffield Wednesday in January.
Do you agree Leeds fans? Let us know below.
