Sara in, Harrison out: The dream start to Leeds United's summer transfer window | OneFootball

Leeds United are heading for the Championship play-offs, with two games against Norwich City deciding whether they can make it all the way to the final at Wembley for a chance at promotion to the Premier League.

Daniel Farke's side had been the form team in the division in 2024 up until the international break, although they were defeated for the first time at home in the league against Blackburn Rovers recently, at a critical point in the campaign, and defeats to QPR and Southampton meant promotion could not be achieved automatically.

It's a play-off campaign for the first time since 2019, when Leeds were last in this position, having been involved in a three-horse race for automatic promotion with Norwich City and Sheffield United. Marcelo Bielsa in his first season in charge then oversaw a two-legged defeat to Derby County.

They remain in good hands this time around, with the former Norwich boss a two-time Championship winner and aiming for a third promotion in as many years from the second tier. Leeds require the most expensive game in the world at Wembley for Farke to make it a hat-trick of promotions, with the final to be held on Sunday 26th May.

Promotion would see a number of changes this summer in the transfer market, not least, because there are plenty of players who left the club on loan last summer that will need to have their future at Elland Road resolved as quickly as possible, in order for the club to then focus on incomings for Farke.

Leeds have decisions to make on many current squad members between now and June, too, with fringe players in need of a move elsewhere to kick on in their respective careers, whilst recruitment calls will be well underway, irrespective of which league they are in. Not only that, but two departures have already been confirmed, with Robin Koch agreeing a pre-contract deal with his current loan club, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Luis Sinisterra a permanent deal with AFC Bournemouth ahead of the summer.

However, with promotion very much in mind, here we take a look at what Leeds' dream start to the summer window could look like this summer.

In: Gabriel Sara

One way to invest as a promoted side is to take the best players away from the clubs who failed to gain promotion, and Gabriel Sara could fit the bill perfectly for Leeds this summer, should they knock his side out in the semi-finals.

He has been one of the division's best players this term, encapsulating some of the footballing qualities that are synonymous with his home nation of Brazil by displaying outstanding skill, technical security, and plenty of final-third creativity as well as much-needed goals from midfield.

The Brazilian can be deployed as part of a midfield pivot but could also play in a more advanced role behind the striker. Georginio Rutter’s future could well be in a wide berth, meaning a progressive midfielder who can crash the box with late runs would be a welcome addition and is how Farke set up his Norwich side previously as well.

Sara fits the bill in that role, as well as in a creative sense, and could also give Leeds' midfield greater control and security by forming a midfield three in a 4-3-3 shape at times, too. Sara has operated all over the midfield by also playing as a right-winger at times this term, especially in recent games, but is the perfect fit into Leeds and Farke's side next season in a central berth.

He's a player more than ready to make the step up to the top flight and has both the technical and physical attributes to be a success in a higher division. Not only that, but he is incredibly durable, and has barely missed a game in the last two seasons for the Canaries. The best ability is often availability and Leeds will need their best players to be ever-present to ensure survival, which Sara certainly could be, whilst being one of the club's marquee big-money moves in the summer, and one to build the team around.

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Out: Jack Harrison

Jack Harrison's future with the club looks all but over in West Yorkshire after Everton completed the signing of the winger in the summer on a season-long loan, where he has been fairly heavily involved at Goodison Park. If Everton survive and can free up the funds for him, then it's fairly likely that's where his future will be. If not, then there will be plenty of interested Premier League sides elsewhere.

One of the big headaches for the club this summer will be maximising fees for unwanted players who remain contracted to Leeds. Harrison enjoyed three successive loans to Elland Road from Manchester City, the third of which contained an option-to-buy clause, which Leeds activated in 2021. He then went on to make 206 appearances for Leeds in his five-year stint, scoring 34 goals and registering a further 32 assists.

He continued to be a key player following Bielsa's departure but joined Everton in the wake of Leeds' relegation to remain a top flight player.

Harrison has four years left on his deal with Leeds until the summer of 2028, and although he has had mixed form this season, he is one of the club's most salable assets in terms of what it can do regarding rules and regulations for Profit and Sustainability and Financial Fair Play. His future now lies elsewhere and he could be key to freeing up funds for the likes of Sara et al.