It doesn’t have to be a big money summer

If Saturdays game showed us anything, it’s that Leeds do need to improve, but spending big money on every position doesn’t have to be an option.

The Whites had five academy products in the starting lineup against Barnsley and each one of them starred in a home win against rivals who are fighting to stay in the League.

The club have shown in recent years that they have strength already in the youth ranks to fill most gaps and the emergence of Paudie O’Conner, Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Tom Pearce have come at the right time.

BPF came in due to a horrid season for Felix Wiedwald and has now had the shirt for nine consecutive fixtures, meaning that Leeds could be set to entrust the starting shirt come next season.

O’Conner and Pearce have come in due to injury concerns to half of Leeds’ defence and have both received plaudits for the way they’ve taken their opportunity in the first team.

Should Leeds go out and look for ways to improve their overall squad this summer, it should be noted that they have ready made players for most positions chomping at the bit in the development squad.

Oriol Rey, Hugo Diaz, Bryce Hosannah, Calum Nicel and Sam Dalby could be called upon in the summer to practice with the senior squad and should not be overlooked for another bout of foreign imports who need to settle in the League for up to a year.

If Leeds can blend a mix of English youth with talent around them, this squad could make a massive difference come August. It’s whether Leeds coaching committee have the stones to make a judgment call.

By Ryan Ingham