Leeds United are flying high in the Championship and are in a good position to achieve promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking. However, the Whites still have their eyes on the division below.
Following a 2-0 win at Elland Road over relegation-threatened Millwall on Sunday afternoon, the Yorkshire outfit moved to the top of the table, although Leicester City still have a game in hand, having played in the FA Cup at the weekend against Chelsea.
As per Opta’s latest projections, the Foxes are still strong favourites to clinch the title by the end of the campaign but Leeds have a 33.1% chance of finishing in the top spot. Additionally, Daniel Farke’s men have a 78.5% chance of ending the season inside the automatic promotion places.
Farke has put together an excellent squad following the side’s relegation from the Premier League last season, signing the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Glen Kamara, Joe Rodon, and Joel Piroe while improving players such as 18-year-old Archie Gray as well as Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville and even Daniel James.
The club’s astute recruitment since the summer has been admirable and is not set to stop. According to a report from HITC, Leeds United are one of several clubs keeping tabs on Blackpool’s sensational loanee Karamoko Dembele. The outlet have claimed that the Whites face stiff competition from a whole host of teams in the top-flight as well as promotion rivals Southampton and Leicester.
Kaddy's first for the Seasiders. 🚀
🍊 #UTMP pic.twitter.com/NV95B7KxiM
— Blackpool FC (@BlackpoolFC) October 8, 2023
The Frenchman has spent the season at Bloomfield Road on loan from French outfit Brest and has scored seven goals and 12 assists in 41 appearances in all competitions, racking up a market value of £500,000, as per Transfermarkt.
Writer’s View
Dembele has had a tremendous season with Blackpool, even if the Seasiders fail to finish inside the playoff places in League One. Only ten players in England’s third tier have registered more goal contributions than him this term.
Leeds United would be getting a real coup in the 21-year-old, although they may have to pay a heftier price tag than his market value suggests. However, the biggest factor Dembele must take into consideration is whether he would get much game-time at Elland Road given the fierce competition at the club right now.