How Leeds United's stunning new-look £129m side could line up in 2026 - if Sevilla and Lazio targets sign
Daniel Farke’s side must invest in the January transfer window to avoid Premier League relegation
Leeds United’s schedule to start 2026 is a gauntlet - after opening at home to Manchester United the fixture list for the next two months is packed with teams who will hope or expect to battle for European qualification like Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle, and Everton.
So it will be integral to bring in January reinforcements quickly to try and steal points in that run before the schedule softens in March with games against Sunderland, Wolves, Brentford, West Ham, Burnley and the return against the Red Devils making up six of their final 10 games of 2025/26.
Entering the international break with 8 points in hand from seven games, Leeds will likely need to keep up that hit rate for the rest of the season and it’s hard to see them doing that with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brendan Aaronson or Daniel James forming two-thirds of their attacking lineup.
However, if they can sharpen an attack that averages less than a goal a game then the Whites possess a defence capable of keeping them in the top flight as they sit level with Fulham while five teams have conceded more despite first-choice goalkeeper missing four Premier League games. So which attacking upgrades could they target?
Pellegrini can fill number 10 hole for Farke
Sean Longstaff has been a revelation so far this season but him sitting in midfield alongside Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach isn’t going to be a dream Pep Guardiola trio any time soon and a more incisive attacking threat there would seriously help out Leeds’ front three.
Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini has been the most prominent attacking midfielder linked with Elland Road ahead of the January transfer window opening, perhaps because a side battling relegation are the most likely candidates to offer a fee for a player in the final year of his contract.
The 29-year-old scored four goals in Roma’s Conference League triumph and has racked up over 300 appearances in the Italian capital, but appears unlikely to bring up the quadruple-century as I Lupi are set to clean house under Gian Piero Gasperini.
He had a down season in 2024/25 but prior to that, Pellegrini hadn’t finished a campaign with less than 16 goal contributions since 2019. Given Leeds have only scored seven times so far, that kind of impact could be pivotal.
Wilson the man to provide Okafor balance
Noah Okafor has arguably Leeds’ brightest spark so far this season, so just imagine how much better he could be if complimented by a more threatening right-winger than Aaronson…
While Harry Wilson isn’t the sexiest signing at winger, he possesses an underrated finish averaging more than one goal or assist every two full games, he provides a threat from set-pieces and he was close to joining the Whites in the summer with his contract expiring in 2026.
He’d be an asset Leeds defensively too - compared to wingers or attacking midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues Wilson is in the top 2% for tackles in his defensive third, top 5% for dribblers tackled anywhere on the pitch and top 1% for challenge success rate, all according to Opta via FBRef.com.
Wood or Zirkzee? Prem rivals hold Leeds’ striker solution
Joshua Zirkzee is reportedly being shopped around for a loan move, so could he become only the 17th player to transfer within the Roses rivalry?
It may not be the worst move for a goal-shy Leeds to make but the Dutchman has been more strongly linked with Everton or West Ham, with former White and current All White Chris Wood instead in the frame for a return to Elland Road.
Wood has averaged less than 45 minutes per game since Ange Postecoglou took over at the City Ground (freezing out last season’s top scorer is just what Nottingham Forest do now, mate) and hasn’t scored in the Premier League since the opening day of the season, but bagged a goal against Midtjylland to remind the watching world what he can do.
Three goals in eight matches (at one every 181 minutes) is still far from a bad record and the Kiwi enjoyed a similar record in his two seasons at Elland Road albeit in the Championship, so it’s no surprise that Leeds have been linked with a move for Wood.
Turning 34 in December, Wood signed a contract extension in the summer but only added 12 months to his deal, which now expires in 2027, so if the Tricky Trees do want to cash in then the January window is their best bet.
Valuations of players so close to the end of their contracts can be difficult, but according to Transfermarkt this attacking overhaul could cost Leeds around €35 million (£30m).
Leeds United 2026 starting XI if predictions come true: Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Longstaff, Stach, Pellegrini; Wilson, Wood, Okafor.