The summer transfer window does not officially open for business until next month, but that has not stopped Leeds United from being linked to several players ahead of their Premier League campaign.
Daniel Farke and his staff will know that they need to recruit well to give themselves a chance of staying in the top-flight, given that the last six teams to get promoted to the division have all been instantly relegated.
Galatasaray star Gabriel Sara, who previously played for Farke’s former team Norwich, has been linked with a move to Elland Road to bolster the club’s options in the middle of the park.
In midfield, the Whites have also been linked with an interest in West Ham United’s Czechia international Tomas Soucek, as they look for Premier League experience and quality.
On that theme, it was recently reported that Leeds United are leading the race to sign Newcastle United’s experienced centre-forward Callum Wilson on a free transfer this summer.
Why Leeds United should sign Callum Wilson
As aforementioned with Soucek, Leeds may want to add quality and experience to their squad to bolster their chances of avoiding an instant relegation back down to the Championship next season.
Wilson has made 238 appearances in the Premier League in his career, for Bournemouth and Newcastle combined, which means that he would arrive at Elland Road with plenty of relevant experience ahead of their fight to avoid the drop.
The England international was even relegated with the Cherries in the 2019/20 campaign and knows what not to do in a relegation battle, which could also be vital experience and learning for the current crop of players.
Experience is not the only thing that Wilson would bring to the table if the 49ers strike a deal to sign him from the Magpies, though, as he is also a proven goalscorer who has shown that he can find the back of the net on a regular basis in the Premier League throughout his career.
24/25
2
0
23/24
9
9
22/23
21
18
21/22
16
8
20/21
23
12
19/20
32
8
18/19
29
14
17/18
23
8
16/17
16
6
15/16
9
5
As you can see in the table above, the 33-year-old attacker has had a difficult season this year, with a lack of starts due to Alexander Isak being ahead of him, but he has typically scored goals when given starts at that level, with 27 goals in his last 32 starts.
His best season in a Newcastle shirt came in the 2022/23 campaign when he scored 18 goals from 17.49 xG in 31 appearances and 21 starts in the top-flight.
This shows that Wilson could bring both experience and quality to the Leeds team in the Premier League next season, which is why the 49ers should push to bring the English forward to Elland Road this summer.
If the owners are able to pull off a free transfer swoop for the clinical Newcastle striker, though, it could be the end of Patrick Bamford’s career in West Yorkshire.
Why Wilson signing would be the end of Bamford at Leeds
The 31-year-old striker would be absolutely finished at Elland Road if the 49ers sign Wilson this summer, because the Magpies forward would take up his role in the squad.
He still has one year left on his contract at Leeds, which means that a team would have to come in and pay a transfer fee to sign him this summer, and the attacker recently suggested that he sees his future in the Premier League with the Whites.
When questioned about a move to the MLS, Bamford said: “I feel like playing in the Premier League suits me a little bit more. Last time round I did pretty well when I was there. So I’m hoping to emulate that and try and do the same again.”
However, the former England international did not start any of his 17 appearances in the Championship for Leeds in the 2024/25 campaign, despite Farke describing him as a “top class” player, which does not suggest that he will play a key role moving forward.
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Bamford is essentially the experienced back-up striker in the squad at the moment, given that he turns 32 in September and has played 102 matches in the top-flight in his career, as he has not provided enough quality on the pitch in recent seasons.
Since scoring an eye-catching 17 goals in the Premier League in the 2020/21 campaign under Marcelo Bielsa, the English forward has failed to deliver consistent quality in the final third for the Whites.
24/25 (Championship)
17
0
2.11
0
23/24 (Championship)
33
15
9.52
8
22/23 (Premier League)
28
18
8.61
4
21/22 (Premier League)
9
7
N/A
2
20/21 (Premier League)
38
37
N/A
17
As you can see in the table above, Bamford has only scored 14 league goals in the last four seasons and underperformed his xG in the three seasons that Sofascore has tracked data for that statistic.
Meanwhile, Wilson has scored 35 Premier League goals for Newcastle in the last four campaigns, which illustrates the gulf in quality between the two players, particularly when you consider that half of Bamford’s seasons came in the second tier.
This means that Wilson would come in as an immediate upgrade on Bamford from a footballing perspective, because of his superior goal return whilst playing at a higher level, and that would make him more of a viable option in the top-flight next term.
The Newcastle star would also bring more experience to the table, as he has played over 100 more matches in the Premier League, and this means that the Leeds target could fulfill the experienced back-up striker role far more effectively than the former Chelsea prospect can.
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Therefore, there would not be any need for Bamford at Elland Road next season if the 49ers sign Wilson, who is essentially an upgraded version of the English striker, and that is why his career at the club could be absolutely finished if the Newcastle man arrives in West Yorkshire this summer.