Leeds United secure Premier League safety after West Ham loss, focus turns to summer plans | OneFootball

Leeds United’s Premier League status is secured after West Ham’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal left the Hammers seven points back with two games left.

According to Leeds Live, Leeds join Sunderland in halting the two-year pattern of promoted clubs going straight back down. They reached 43 points with a 3-1 win at Burnley nine days ago, a total that has not seen a team relegated in the 20-team era.

Survival was the season’s primary aim despite an FA Cup semi-final run. The 49ers invested more than £100m on 10 summer signings, having maxed out spending limits.

Daniel Farke survived pressure in November and his half-time switch to a back three at Manchester City became a turning point. Leeds have since lost only four of 22 league matches, two against Arsenal and City.

Recruitment scrutiny eased as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, both free arrivals with injury records, combined for 20 goals. Noah Okafor, sidelined for tomorrow’s trip to Tottenham, has six in seven league games.

The board are aware Farke’s contract has just over a year to run, with any talks deferred until after the season. Leeds host Brighton before a final day visit to West Ham, whom they beat last month to end a 39-year wait for an FA Cup quarter-final win.

Leeds could still reach 50 points, with £3m per place. New Squad Cost Ratio rules due this summer are set to leave them marginally worse off than last year, and the FA Cup run added £1.5m.

Source: Leeds Live