The state of Leeds, Leicester & Saints

On Sunday afternoon, the final two relegation spots were filled in the 2022/23 Premier League. Both Leeds United and Leicester City joined Southampton in their demotion to the Championship for next season. 

Southampton have had a fair bit of time to process and prepare for the second-tier, whilst Leeds and Leicester held out hope heading into the final day of the season. With two and a half months to plan now, though, this is a look at the state of the three clubs relegated from the Premier League and how they could shape up next season.

The purpose of this piece is to simply analyse the state of each of their first-team squads as well head into the summer and what each side could do with doing, as well as acknowledging which players are most likely to depart. At the end of each summary, there will be an ‘extremely early Playmaker verdict’ for next season; which will, of course, be subject to change ahead of the campaign but is just a way of gauging how the relegated sides are set. 

LEEDS UNITED

Promoted to the Premier League in 2020

Manager: (vacant)

Out of contract: Joel Robles, Adam Forshaw

@Getty /

End of loan: Weston McKennie

Remaining squad

GK: Kristoffer Klaesson, Ilan Meslier
DEF: Max Wober, Liam Cooper, Leo Hjelde, Charlie Cresswell, Pascal Struijk, Robin Koch, Diego Llorente
FB: Junior Firpo, Stuart Dallas, Luke Ayling, Rasmus Nissen Kristensen, Cody Drameh
MID: Tyler Adams, Archie Gray, Marc Roca, Alfie McCalmont, Darko Gyabi, Jamie Shackleton, Jack Jenkins, Lewis Bate, Brenden Aaronson, Sam Greenwood
W: Jack Harrison, Willy Gnonto, Crysencio Summerville, Luis Sinisterra, Helder Costa, Daniel James, Stuart McKinstry, Ian Carlo Poveda
FWD: Patrick Bamford, Rodrigo, Georginio Rutter, Joe Gelhardt, Tyler Roberts

In terms of further departures this summer, it is likely that players such as Helder Costa, Diego Llorente and Tyler Roberts will not return to Elland Road after loan spells last season. 

Then the likes of Cody Drameh, Junior Firpo, Tyler Adams, Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra, Willy Gnonto and Rodrigo have already been heavily linked with moves away from the club. Those players, combined with the likes of Leo Hjelde, Jack Jenkins, Lewis Bate, Alfie McCalmont, Ian Poveda and Stuart McKinstry all being shipped out again leads to a clearer picture for The Whites.

In that instance, retaining Joel Robles alongside Meslier and Klaeeson seems sensible, whilst a left-back appears crucial. In midfield, an Adams replacement, exarcebated by Weston McKennie’s departure, will be pivotal, whilst wide men are required. The likely loss of Harrison, Gnonto and Sinisterra will require significant attention as they seek to provide attacking support for the likes of Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter; without ruling out the need for another striker, Joe Gelhardt offers a depth that allows other positions to be prioritsed.

@Getty /

Either way, it is set for a serious summer of upheaval at Elland Road with a squad that is almost 50% made up of players that dramatically overperformed in reaching the top-flight under Marcelo Bielsa and 50% of players that cost extremely high transfer fees before failing to get close to adapting and thriving in English football.

Extremely early Playmaker verdict: mid-table

LEICESTER CITY

Promoted to the Premier League in 2014

Manager: (vacant)

Out of contract: Daniel Amartey, Ryan Bertrand, Hamza Choudhury, Jonny Evans, Nampalys Mendy, Caglar Soyuncu, Youri Tielemans

End of loan: Tete

Remaining squad

GK: Iversen, Ward, Smithies, Stolarczyk
DEF: Faes, Vestergaard, Souttar
FB: Castagne, Thomas, Kristiansen, Justin, Pereira
MID: Ndidi, Soumare, Dewsbury-Hall, Maddison, Praet
W: Albrighton, Barnes
CF: Vardy, Iheanacho, Daka, Perez, Hirst

@Getty /

Within a week of being relegated to the Championship, Leicester City have had several players heavily linked with moves away. Wout Faes, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho have been linked away, whilst it would also seem unlikely that the likes of Timothy Castagne , Ayoze Perez and Wilfred Ndidi remain at the King Power.

From being champions of England just seven years ago, The Foxes face a summer of serious upheaval with no manager seemingly close to the job and a mass exodus on the cards. That exodus is set to be led by the initial retained list, which could feature as many as seven first-team players. The likes of Jonny Evans, Daniel Amartey and Hamza Choudhury may remain but a lot of work needs doing.

If Leicester do go into the summer with the knowledge that seven first-teamers will depart on frees, one will leave at the end of their loan and they are likely to sell at least five then the under-fire under pressure Director of Football, Jon Rudkin, faces a busy summer of incomings.

A goalkeeper is probably not required with the improvement of Daniel Iversen but central defensive depth will be needed, as well as depth in central midfield. In fact, five central midfielders could be required if the departures that are expected do occur. Leicester have needed wide men for two years and that problem not only persists but has worsened, whilst up top, if Vardy, Iheanacho and Daka stay, they will be fine. 

Leicester should have the finances and capability to rebuild quickly but the amount of work that needs doing is concerning. If they opt to sell just two or three of their stars, which is more than possible, then they should have more than enough to compete again at the top end – but a lot of work needs to be done.

Extremely early Playmaker verdict: at least top six

SOUTHAMPTON

Promoted to the Premier League in 2012

Manager: (vacant)

Out of contract: Willy Caballero, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Theo Walcott

End of loan: 

Remaining squad

GK: Alex McCarthy, Gavin Bazunu, Mateusz Lis
DEF: Mohammed Salisu, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Lyanco, Jack Stephens, Duje Caleta-Car, Jan Bednarek, Dynel Simeu
FB: Romain Perraud, Thierry Small, Juan Larios, Kyle Walker-Peters, James Bree, Tino Livramento
MID: Romeo Lavia, Ibrahima Diallo, Will Smallbone, James Ward-Prowse, Carlos Alcaraz, Joe Aribo
W: Samuel Edozie, Moussa Djenepo, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Mislav Orsic, Stuart Armstrong, Nathan Tella
FWD: Adam Armstrong, Che Adams, Paul Onuachu, Sekou Mara

The most likely outgoing at St Mary’s is indeed James Ward-Prowse. The 28 year-old Southampton skipper has played 409 games for the club but seemingly said his goodbyes in their 4-4 draw with Liverpool on the final day of the season. Saints have been relegated for a couple of weeks now so have had the opportunity to prepare.

A major part of that preparation will be choosing which players are allowed to leave the club. The likes of Ward-Prowse, as well as Mohammed Salisu, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Romeo Lavia, are extremely unlikely to play in the second-tier. As well as those players, Kyle Walker-Peters, Carlos Alcaraz and Kamaldeen Sulemana have all expressed they will remain with the club but are open to a departure, whilst Paul Onuachu, Mislav Orsic, Moussa Djenepo, Romain Perraud and Duje Caleta-Car could all also move on.

It is unlikely that all of those players depart but they are not the only ones linked with a move away. Nathan Tella helped Burnley earn promotion to the Premier League last season and The Clarets want to make that move permanent, whilst Adam Armstrong and Che Adams have been linked with moves themselves.

@Getty /

If Southampton get a plan and clear squad structure in place early, which they appear set to do with Russell Martin reportedly set to be announced as their manager in the coming days, then they have a major opportunity to bounce back at the first attempt.

Their squad for Championship football appears too strong and, with the likelihood of Sport Republic replenishing it even further, they will be a serious title threat, albeit Russell Martin’s lack of effectiveness at both MK Dons and Swansea will be a concern. 

Extremely early Playmaker verdict: top two