Leeds United has made clear that initial meetings on preparations for the Premier League next season have taken place at the club. Daniel Wales reports.
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00:00Now, Leeds United are once again preparing for life in the Premier League following them winning the championship title in the season just gone.
00:08But the question is, are Leeds equipped to survive in the top flights of English football?
00:14Because for the past two seasons, all three teams promoted from the championship have gone straight back down.
00:20Will Leeds be able to break that trend?
00:23On the surface, at least, Leeds would seem relatively well prepared given that they do have some Premier League experience within their ranks.
00:33However, they will still need further strengthening of their squad if they are to survive.
00:39Ahead of Leeds United's final game of the championship season, which saw them crowned champions of the second division,
00:45Daniel Farker, discussed that meetings had already been taking place regarding preparations for the Premier League in terms of their transfer business
00:54and identifying targets that they would need to make sure that survival was a distinct possibility for their time in the top flight.
01:03We had a few short meetings, obviously also to speak about a few things and in order to prepare also then the future.
01:12But it's also not next week.
01:15I will go straight away on holiday.
01:16It's also like next week we'll use when the dust is settled and we have more time and don't have to worry about the next game.
01:24Also to have important meetings because, like you said, there were many, many structural and also personal changes in the past.
01:31And we have to make sure that we get not just the structure but also the processes right.
01:37Because it's important that each and every decision that we take for the next season is really spot on.
01:44The recent results and the recent years have shown how difficult it is, especially as a newly promoted side, to be successful on Premier League level.
01:53And for that, it's important also, especially with all these changes right now, to sit together and to make sure that we have clarity about the budget.
02:02And we have worked a lot, also like in potential targets, for example, also for the Premier League.
02:07We are prepared in many, many ways.
02:09And our scouts, our data analysts are doing a really, really good job.
02:14But obviously there were many changes.
02:16When I think about the last season, I've prepared more or less the last season together with Angus, with Greta, with Jordan and with Nick Hammond, more or less.
02:28And right now we will prepare for the next season together with Robbie, with Adam, with Alex.
02:34So there are new people in new roles.
02:38The good thing is I work, meanwhile, also with, for example, with Adam, with Alex, with Robbie since nearly two years.
02:45So we are used to each other.
02:46We know each other.
02:47But they are also in different roles right now.
02:48And we have to make sure that the processes are also right and that we have really clarity in which way we want also to bring the new targets in.
03:00However, Farke went on to also make clear that plans still had to be finalised and that further details were needed in terms of what Leeds would require if they are to survive next season.
03:11Of course, many Leeds supporters are simply happy to be back in the Premier League, but they will also want to make sure that their squad is capable enough of competing at the top level of English football.
03:23And for that, there is a bit more time needed in order to discuss also all these processes and to be then all on the same page because before we can allow ourselves also like to have a bit of time off.
03:36But the time off means also for a manager and also for the people in the background, not just holiday and just relaxing.
03:45It's more like hard work in order to make sure that we have a competitive Premier League squad.
03:49So for that, especially in the next week, we'll need a few more meetings, but we're on a good way and everything that we've spoken so far is on a good way and I'm optimistic.
04:01For Leeds, it would appear that the money is there to spend this summer.
04:05It is therefore just a case of making sure that they land the targets that they have already identified, which of course is easier said than done because other clubs will be in for them as well.
04:16And Leeds, as a club just coming up from the Championship, may not have the pull of other clubs who want to also bring in players that they would like to strengthen their own respective squads too.
04:29Leeds, though, as a club of their size and stature, will have some pull, but it will be difficult and it may be a case of them paying over the odds, which could harm them further down the line.
04:40It will therefore make for an interesting summer at Elland Road.