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Leeds United have shelled out £17.4m to land their sixth signing of the summer - again changing the team’s strongest XI and bench.
Hot on the heels of deals for Lukas Nmecha, Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Sean Longstaff, Leeds unveiled German international midfielder Anton Stach as their latest recruit on Tuesday morning.
The 26-year-old has joined Leeds from Hoffenheim for €20m plus add-ons, signing a five-year-deal at Elland Road. His arrival is a highly significant signing and one that likely has big implications on the team’s strongest XI and bench at a time when Daniel Farke appears to be siding with a new system.
Here, as Stach settles into life as a Leeds player, is our idea of the new best starting line up and nine-man substitutes bench based on the player’s available to Farke and from what was learned from Saturday’s friendly against Manchester United.
Farke dropped big news after the game as he revealed that Patrick Bamford was not part of his Premier League plans...
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7. CM: Anton Stach
As a €20m new signing, the very highly regarded Stach surely goes into the XI and in all likelihood next to Ampadu as one the two more defensive centre midfielders. | LUFC
8. CM: Sean Longstaff
£12m new boy Longstaff is a player that even Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe didn't want to leave which speaks volumes and it would seem likely that Farke wil try and get him in his first choice XI. That said, that would likely mean Ao Tanaka dropping out and Tanaka appeals as the most attacking option of the centre midfielders so it's a hard call, as is leaving out Ilia Gruev. Brenden Aaronson, meanwhile, would likely get the nod in a 4-2-3-1. | Getty Images
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9. RW: Dan James
James has been quiet in pre-season so far but there can't be much doubt that the speedster and last season's player of the year is first choice winger fresh from signing his new deal. | LUFC
10. LW: Willy Gnonto
Another hard one to call as the returning Jack Harrison has feature heavily in the pre-season friendlies thus far. He could well make the XI if he gets back to his best. Then there's Largie Ramazani in the melting pot too. But Gnonto probably gets the call as it stands although it is clear that Leeds are trying to sign another winger with their sights set on the exciting Paixao. | Manchester United via Getty Imag
11. ST: Joel Piroe
Another hard call, even with Bamford no longer in the mix, as free summer signing Lukas Nmecha has featured heavily in pre-season and might emerge as something of a key man surprise package. It could also be that Piroe ends up playing as a no 10. But the Dutchman was last season's top scorer and Championship Golden Boot winner who is probably first choice striker as it stands although getting a big new signing in the position looks a must, hence the Muniz interest. | Getty Images
12. Sub: Karl Darlow
Darlow replaced Ilan Meslier as first choice keeper towards the end of the Championship-winning campaign but it's still quite a hard call as to who would now be 'no 2' behind Perri. It also seems very unlikely that both will stick around, Meslier in particularly the subject of transfer interest. Darlow, though, appears main back up - a role he has previously been used to. Solid option to have. | Andrew Matthews/PA Wire