Leeds United have a busy summer transfer window ahead of them regardless of whether they are promoted this season.
The Whites are set to commence their play-off campaign at Norwich City this weekend in what is effectively a second shot at sealing an immediate return to the Premier League.
Having been top at the March international break, a run of just eight points in as many matches to end the regular campaign saw them miss out on the top two to Leicester City and Ipswich Town.
Those behind-the-scenes will already be putting plans in place for the summer and promotion would undoubtedly lead to a more exciting window at Elland Road, as more focus would be on who comes in.
On the other hand, Leeds would be shopping in a completely different market if they remain in the Championship and in order to comply with PSR rules, 49ers Enterprises have acknowledged key sales would have to be made.
Leeds target Nat Phillips shares what his summer ‘plan’ is
Leeds have already been linked with a number of players ahead of the summer with Kalvin Phillips among those they could potentially target if promoted.
Rotherham United goalkeeper Viktor Johansson is also said to be someone Leeds are looking at and he would be a brilliant addition in the Championship.
However, there is one player Daniel Farke is reportedly keen to bring in irrespective of the division Leeds are in, and that is Liverpool’s Nat Phillips.
After a disappointing first half of the season on loan at Celtic, Phillips joined Cardiff City on loan in January and enjoyed a positive time of it, starting 17 matches.
However, Phillips’ future very much remains up in the air this summer, particularly with manager Jurgen Klopp on his way out and therefore a period of transition ahead.
Speaking in an interview with LFC TV GO’s Extra Time programme, Phillips says he will return to Liverpool for pre-season but does not know what will happen beyond that.
He said: “Looking to the summer, sometimes you can worry and overthink things too much. You can only control what you can control. The plan is to go back in pre-season and just take it from there.”
Centre-back clearly a position of priority for Leeds
Leeds’ centre-back options is going to be in need of an overhaul this summer, irrespective of whether they get promoted.
Liam Cooper is not expected to be offered a new deal, while it would be very surprising if Charlie Cresswell settles for another season of no football.
Joe Rodon, meanwhile, looks set to sign for Leeds if they return to the Premier League but after the season he’s had, staying down could make it problematic.
That would leave Leeds with just Pascal Struijk as an out-and-out first team option providing Ethan Ampadu moves back into midfield.
Phillips was a £10 million target of Leeds’ last summer and he would be a decent backup addition in the Championship, but not the Premier League.