OPINION
With the race for promotion still wide open in the Championship Leeds United will have a number of plans in place when it comes to the summer transfer window.
The targets that they pursue will no doubt be hugely different if they do get into the Premier League compared to if they remain in the second tier next season – a headache that the Director of Football at Elland Road, Victor Orta, will have to contend with.
His business over the summer and winter windows has worked wonders so far, the likes of Patrick Bamford and Kiko Casilla making a real difference to the squad at Elland Road but translating that to recruitment for the Premier League is a whole different kettle of fish.
Thankfully for the Leeds chief, he might have it easy in the top flight if Gordon Strachan is to be believed.
The Scot, an Elland Road hero during the 1990s, knows exactly how big Leeds are as a club and has made the claim that the Whites should have no trouble bringing in big names to ply their trade in Yorkshire.
He told Leeds Live: “A lot depends on investment now. It’s huge. Recruitment’s huge in football now, no matter what club you’re at, it’s not so much tactics, it’s recruitment,” he said.
“Leeds can drag people, a lot of players in because of the atmosphere, the stadium, the history. They can do more than most clubs that get promoted.”
As Strachan says, new signings will play a massive part of Leeds’ future success and the pressure to deliver on Orta’s shoulders is massive – but working at a club the size of Leeds has its benefits.
The Spaniard will no doubt be fielding calls from agents all summer and there will be some notable talents available to the Whites if they want them.
Promotion is one thing but survival in the top flight is another – Orta will surely be drooling at the prospect of who he can get to Elland Road.