Leeds United are back in the top. But can Leeds get back on top?
By virtue of their title win in the English Championship, Leeds United were promoted to the English Premier League. The 2020-21 campaign will mark the club’s first in the top flight of English football since 2003-04.
That season, a 19th-place finish in the 20-team EPL doomed Leeds to relegation. In 2007, things grew worse when United were again relegated to League One.
Leeds made it back to the Championship in 2010. After a decade of trying, the club is back in the big show.
The question is whether the Yorkshire side can once again climb up to a place among the elite English football clubs. And Leeds won’t need to wait long to gain a measuring stick on how well they fit in with the fashionable sides.
United will open the 2020-21 EPL season away to defending champions Liverpool at Anfield Road, renewing what was once among the sport’s greatest rivalries in the early 1970s.
Premier League 2020: Here are the schedules and Fixtures list
Glory Days:
Like that Bruce Springsteen song, most of the memories of the days when Leeds United ruled over English football are viewed via black and white video footage.
From 1967-75, no domestic side was as dominant in England as Leeds United. The club won the English League first division title in 1968-69 and 1973-74. Leeds played in four FA Cup finals, winning the coveted trophy in 1971-72.
United also captured the Footbal League Cup in 1967-68. There were two wins in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and one in the FA Charity Shield. Leeds United were also runners-up in the UEFA Cup and European Cup finals.
In The Market:
Based on early offseason activity, Leeds United is serious about bolstering its side for the return to EPL action. It’s rare to hear a transfer target mentioned without there being at least a rumor of a connection to Leeds United.
Leeds United are speculated as the leaders to land Arsenal teen sensation Sam Greenwood. The club is reportedly prepared to pay between £1.5 million and potentially as much as £3m with bonuses for the 18-year-old striker.
Leeds are also heavily in pursuit of Rangers winger Ryan Kent. An £10 million offer from the Elland Road club was already rejected by the Scottish club for the former Liverpool player. However, Leeds is expected to increase its offer to £14m and are willing to pay Kent a salary in the range of £50,000 per week.
Besiktas forward Cyle Larin, Valencia striker Rodrigo, Lanus winger Pedro De La Vega, AC Milan striker Rafael Leao, and Arsenal defender Rob Holding are other names lined to the Yorkshire club. Leeds also remain interested in retaining Brighton’s Ben White. He joined them on loan last season. But Brighton insists that White is not for sale.
Leeds In the Lead:
While Fulham (+75000) and West Bromwich Albion (+100000), the other two clubs to earn promotion last season, are given the longest odds to win the 2020-21 EPL title, Leeds is listed at +20000. It’s far from the favorites but history would suggest that the Elland Road side is worth a look as a potential value bet.
When Leeds United were promoted to the top flight for the 1964-65 season, the club finished second in the standings.
Another Leeds promotion side came up in 1990-91. United were fourth-place performers that season and then won the league title in 1991-92, managed by Howard Wilkinson and led on the pitch by Scottish international midfielder Gordon Strachan.
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