Leeds United will effectively get a second chance at promotion in the play-offs.
The Whites missed out on automatic promotion to both Leicester City and Ipswich Town due to a really poor run of form after the March international break.
Daniel Farke’s side picked up just eight points from their final eight matches and though they went into the final day with a faint hope of second place, the miracle they needed did not materialise.
Having secured a third place finish, Leeds will now face Farke’s former side Norwich City over two legs for a chance to play at Wembley against one of Southampton or West Bromwich Albion.
Amid their poor run to end the season, Leeds fans are not overly confident heading into the play-offs. However, this is a brand new competition and the regular season should therefore be put to the back of their minds.
Leeds will owe Championship side £3m if they win the play-offs
Having lost a vast amount of first team players in the wake of relegation last summer, Leeds made nine new signings in order to rebuild the squad.
As per Transfermarkt, only Leicester City and Coventry City spent more than Leeds last summer, with the 49ers said to have forked out around £30.9 million in their first ever transfer window.
Joel Piroe, Ethan Ampadu, Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev make up the vast majority of that expenditure, with the former’s transfer fee reportedly eight figures.
According to Wales Online, Leeds spent an initial £12 million to sign Piroe from Swansea City, but that figure could rise even further if Farke’s side win the play-offs.
They claim Leeds would owe the Swans a further £3 million in add-ons upon a return to the Premier League, taking the total transfer fee up to a pretty hefty £15 million.
Has Piroe justified his big transfer fee?
On the basis of what he has offered, and how he fits into the system, it has to be said that Piroe has not justified the large expenditure.
Though Piroe has scored some key goals against the likes of Preston North End, Watford, Middlesbrough and Bristol City just to name a few, a return of 13 isn’t the out-and-out marksman Leeds forked out so much for.
The 24-year-old has had too many games where he has been on the periphery, whether that is as a nine or slightly deeper in a 10 role. His performance in the recent defeat at QPR was a shocker.
Having said that, Piroe still has the opportunity to play a vital role over these next two, potentially three matches. A play-off final winning goal would make him worth every penny.