Leeds potential 2022/23 Championship XI

Despite going five games unbeaten before losing to Manchester City, Leeds United are once again staring at relegation.

Everton are just two points adrift of the Whites with a game in hand and if the Toffees manage to regain some form, Leeds will be in serious trouble. After all, their game plan is miserable.

Of course, everyone at Leeds is hoping the Whites can stay up, but now could be the time to start contingency planning.

With that in mind, we’ll look at how Leeds could line up in the Championship next season if they’re relegated.

GK—Kristoffer Klaesson

Illan Meslier has been ranked as one of the best young goalkeepers in the world lately and if Los Blancos go down he could be snapped up by a big club.

Kristoffer Klaesson is a ready number two and his performance against Wolves in March showed he is more than capable of taking Meslier’s place if need be.

RB – Luke Ayling

Luke Ayling has been a Championship player for most of his career and at the age of 30 it’s hard to imagine a Premier League side coming for him this summer as Leeds go under.

Ayling has been with the Whites for years and we would expect him to stay in the Championship.

CB – Pascal Struijk

Recently compared to Virgil van Dijk by Alan Shearer, Pascal Struijk is more than good enough to play for a top club.

However, with two years left on his contract and wages won’t be huge, Leeds shouldn’t be under much pressure to sell the Dutchman and the sales of Spain international Diego Llorente and German regular Robin Koch should open a place in the side for Struijk.

CB—Liam Cooper

The club captain. Liam Cooper is unlikely to be good enough to earn a move to the Premier League at his age and if Leeds go down we fully expect him to stick around and give the Whites another boost in promotion.

LB—Stuart Dallas

Leeds’ Mr Reliable, if the Whites go under Dallas would probably have a keen interest in the Premier League in all other circumstances.

Unfortunately, the Northern Irishman is currently suffering from a broken femur, meaning he will be on the sidelines for a long time.

However, he should be back by mid-next season and we expect him to play a big part in Leeds’ Championship campaign if they are relegated.

DM – Mateusz Klich

Mateusz Klich, signed until 2024, is another we expect to stay at Elland Road if Leeds go under.

The Poland midfielder, like Cooper and Ayling, is at an odd age when Premier League sides are unlikely to bet on him and after years of good service at Leeds we don’t expect him to be in any rush to leave.

DM—Adam Forshaw

Leeds United have been stuck in injury hell at Adam Forshaw in 2020 and 2021 and we fully expect the former Middlesbrough man to repay that good faith when Leeds go down.

A fantastic midfielder at this level, Forshaw could be key for Leeds if they want to play league football next season.

LM—Dan James

The most expensive player on this squad, we’re somewhat bold in predicting that Dan James will stay at Leeds even if they’re relegated.

Sales of the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Raphinha, Llorente, Koch and possibly Jack Harrison should allow Leeds to keep at least a few big names at the club and with James signed until 2026 it shouldn’t be too big a deal to keep him Risk in terms of resale value later – should Leeds later have to sell it.

RM – Helder Costa

Perhaps a surprising name in our team. Helder Costa is currently on loan at Valencia but is set to return this summer.

Costa hasn’t had the best career at Leeds so far but we can imagine he could be just the type of player that Jesse Marsch shines for. After all, the American likes to use inverted wingers in his 4-2-2-2 system.

ST—Patrick Bamford

Around a year ago Patrick Bamford was one of the hottest players in England but after a year out through injury, the England striker may have to prove himself again.

As Aleksandar Mitrovic showed at Fulham, retaining his star striker can be the key to an immediate return to the Premier League and Bamford could well be that figure for Leeds next season.

ST—Joe Gelhardt

Leeds’ brightest young spark this season, if the Whites are to be relegated we fully expect Gelhardt to play a starring role in the Championship.

The youngster looks superb for the English game and could be the EFL’s breakout star in 2022/23 if Leeds are relegated.

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