“Leeds have to be very careful, if you start selling all your best players, then it’s going to be very difficult to get promoted next season”- Gabriel Agbonlahor issues Leeds transfer warning after Archie Gray sale as Brighton show interest in signing Rutter

This was the time Daniel Farke and Leeds United could and should have been preparing for the new Premier League season.

But instead, they are still in England’s second tier and preparing for an opening-day clash against newly-promoted Portsmouth. The thing is, Leeds fans have been here before, they know the feeling of losing a Championship play-off final and the devastating effect it can have on the team.

As soon as that final whistle blew at Wembley against Southampton, one of the first things on the supporters’ minds would have been. Who will leave?

There were the obvious names thrown on the table, such as Crysencio Summerville after his outstanding season on the flanks. Perhaps Georginio Rutter would head for the exit door after seeing Brighton show interest in him or it’ll be Wilfried Gnonto who will finally get the move he do much angled for last summer.

As of this moment, they are still Leeds players and there is every chance they could yet leave because there is a long way to go before the window slams shut. But one piece of transfer business Leeds have already concluded is selling their rising young talent Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur.

Gabby Agbonlahor thinks Gray ‘would have loved’ to have stayed at Elland Road, but finances forced this sale.

With Farke aiming to earn instant promotion ahead of the new season, Agbonlahor did warn that Leeds have to be ‘very careful’ because they might not get that promotion they crave because such key players are leaving, as he told talkSPORT.

“They are a selling club aren’t they,” joked Agbonlahor as he rubbed salt into the wounds of Leeds fans. 

“I am not starting Leeds fans. I am joking. No, listen, you don’t want to lose one of your young talents, do you? But the problems they have financially. Not getting promoted affected them. They have got to sell and they are getting the figures we are talking about. 

On Leeds won’t get promoted if they sell their best players: “I know. I get it. But financially Leeds need to sell. I agree (sell somebody else). But I am sure Archie Gray, even though he would love to stay at Leeds, wants to go and play Premier League football. It’s like any young player. It might be your team and you are Leeds through and through, but the chance to go and play for a big Premier League club, you can’t turn down. Then Leeds have to be very careful, you start selling all their best players, then it’s going to be very difficult to get promoted next season.”

Amid the doom and gloom, there is one big positive and that’s the return of centre-back Joe Rodon after his fantastic debut campaign in Yorkshire.

Yes, Leeds fans will still be hurting that one of their own has left, but at least they are still strong from a defensive aspect. Not only will Rodon bring reliability and consistency, but he will also be that much-needed vocal figure in the dressing room.

Now it’s just a case of trying to keep as many players as possible on board because you just know the offers are going to flood in left, right and centre.