Leeds United face the unenviable task of having to recruit for a season in the Premier League after they won the Championship title to earn promotion to the big time.
The last six teams that were promoted from the second tier were all relegated in their first seasons in the top-flight, which speaks to how difficult the task ahead will be for the Whites.
However, Leeds already know what it takes to achieve survival in their first season back in the Premier League, because they finished in the top-half under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign.
The West Yorkshire outfit lost 4-3 to Liverpool in a thrilling match on the opening day of the term, before they went on to comfortably avoid relegation.
Exceptional recruitment work done by Victor Orta and Bielsa underpinned their success that season, as they made several key signings to bolster the squad.
Arguably, the most successful signing that the Whites made ahead of the 2020/21 campaign was the addition of Raphinha from Rennes on a permanent deal.
Leeds hit the jackpot with Raphinha
Leeds swooped to sign the Brazilian attacker from the French side in a deal that was reported to be worth £17m plus add-ons, and it turned out to be a huge bargain.
Coming up from the Championship, Bielsa’s side needed an injection of quality to bolster their efforts to stay in the Premier League, and that is exactly what Raphinha provided with his quality at the top end of the pitch from a right wing position.
Appearances
30
Goals
6
Big chances created
12
Key passes per game
2.1
Assists
9
Dribbles completed per game
1.9
As you can see in the table above, the Brazil international made an instant impact in the top-flight with a return of 18 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 30 appearances.
Raphinha was not done there, though, as the left-footed magician scored 11 goals and created ten ‘big chances’ in 35 appearances in the Premier League in the 2021/22 campaign to steer Jesse Marsch’s team clear of relegation.
Raphinha’s incredible form for Leeds in the Premier League in his two seasons at Elland Road, unfortunately, attracted interest from elsewhere, and he signed for Barcelona in a deal worth a reported £55m in the summer of 2022.
In the present day, the former Whites star has scored 34 goals and provided 25 assists in 56 matches for the Spanish giants this season, in what has been a phenomenal campaign for him on an individual level.
Whilst Raphinha has kicked on to become a superstar in European football with Barcelona, Leeds are still looking for their next winger to shine on the Premier League stage.
Leeds United's wingers since Raphinha left
Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League in the season after the Brazilian sensation moved on from Elland Road, which points to how important he was to the side.
The Whites ended that term without any of their wingers scoring more than five goals or assisting more than seven goals in the top-flight, which shows that they failed to adequately replace Raphinha’s impact at the top end of the pitch.
24/25 (Championship)
Dan James (12)
Manor Solomon (13)
23/24 (Championship)
Crysencio Summerville (21)
Crysencio Summerville (10)
22/23 (Premier League)
Luis Sinisterra (7)
Jack Harrison (10)
As you can see in the table above, Dan James hit double figures for goals and Manor Solomon hit double figures for assists, but it remains to be seen how that translates to the top division, after Crysencio Summerville’s struggles this term.
The Dutch forward, who left Leeds to sign for West Ham last summer, only scored one goal and provided one assist in 19 Premier League games for the Hammers this season, which suggests that he has failed to make the step up to the top tier as of yet.
Leeds, therefore, have not had a winger who has had the quality to make a consistent impact at the top level since Raphinha left, but they could change that by signing reported transfer target Dazien Maeda, who is reportedly valued at £25m.
Why Leeds should sign Daizen Maeda
The Whites should swoop to sign the Celtic superstar in the upcoming summer transfer window because he could be their best winger signing since they brought Raphinha in from Rennes in the summer of 2020.
Maeda, dubbed an “amazing role model” by Brendan Rodgers, just ended his 2024/25 campaign with the Scottish giants and enjoyed an unbelievable year on a personal level.
The 27-year-old sensation scored a staggering 33 goals and provided 12 assists in 53 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, which means that Raphinha only outscored him by one goal for Barcelona, and he has scored at least 12 more goals than any other Leeds winger has in one season in the last three years.
These statistics show that the Celtic star has the potential to be an exceptional addition to the Leeds squad as a winger, who typically plays on the left flank, with the quality to score and create goals at an incredible rate.
Some supporters may question the quality of Scottish football and how it translates to the Premier League, as is the case with the Championship, but Maeda also showcased his quality on the biggest stage of all in the Champions League.
Appearances
9
xG
2.80
Goals
4
Conversion rate
27%
Big chances created
1
Assists
0
As you can see in the table above, the Hoops star outperformed his xG to score an impressive four goals in nine Champions League games, which included goals against German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
This shows that the Japanese ace, who has been described as a “machine” by coaches, has the quality to make a big impact in the final third against some of the biggest teams in Europe, which suggests that he could adapt to the level of the Premier League.
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Therefore, Leeds could sign their best winger since Raphinha by splashing £25m on Maeda in the upcoming summer transfer window, because he has the statistics and the performances at the top level to suggest that he would be a high-quality addition to Daniel Farke’s squad.