---
title: "Leeds United’s predicted XI for 2020/2021"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-uniteds-predicted-xi-for-2020-2021-kiko-casilla-kalvin-phillips-cyle-larin-ben-white-marcelo-bielsa/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Uways Nisar"
section: "Championship News"
published: "2020-03-26T19:40:10Z"
modified: "2020-04-06T11:54:00Z"
---

# Leeds United’s predicted XI for 2020/2021

**With Leeds United firmly in the [driving seat](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/championship/table) in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League, it’s maybe time to start thinking about what a potential starting XI for next season would look like.**

Well in goal, Kiko Casilla is an experienced figure, who has won a [plethora of trophies](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kiko-casilla/erfolge/spieler/27486) and has also kept the [most clean sheets in the Championship](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jumplist/weisseweste/wettbewerb/GB2), making him the obvious choice.

In defence, Ben White [has been superb](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Show/England-Leeds) this season and with [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8127089/West-Ham-monitoring-Wolves-starlet-Dion-Sanderson.html) suggesting Brighton and Hove Albion are eyeing Dion Sanderson, there’s still a chance he could move to the club permanently. Alongside him, the captain Liam Cooper should start having won the most aerial duels and made the most clearances per league game, [as per WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Show/England-Leeds).

Stuart Dallas and Luke Ayling have been brilliant on the flanks, averaging the [second and joint-third most tackles per game](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Show/England-Leeds) respectively for the Whites. However, they’ve also been prominent in attack with the Northern Ireland international having [scored three goals](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Show/England-Leeds) and the London-born ace having struck [four](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Show/England-Leeds) times.

In midfield, Kalvin Phillips is the obvious choice with [Adrian Durham](https://twitter.com/talksport/status/1229473083376984066?lang=en) having labelled him ‘England-class’, a show of his outstanding ability. And with former Elland Road ace [Michael Brown](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1249749/leeds-news-kalvin-phillips-man-utd-transfer-marcelo-bielsa-promotion) confirming the Yorkshire-born ace ‘loves’ the club, it seems he could be set to stay should promotion be achieved.

[Josh Cullen](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8095637/West-Ham-facing-fight-hold-Josh-Cullen-Bournemouth-Leeds-West-Brom-interested.html) has been linked with Leeds and having [averaged 1.5 key passes per game](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Show/England-Leeds) in the second tier, the fourth-most when compared to Marcelo [Bielsa’s squad](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Show/England-Leeds), he would be a sensible signing. And with his contract at parent club West Ham United [expiring in 2021](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8095637/West-Ham-facing-fight-hold-Josh-Cullen-Bournemouth-Leeds-West-Brom-interested.html), he would be a cheap option.

\[freshpress-poll id=”289259″\]

Pablo Hernandez and Jack Harrison have had a stellar impact, [contributing to 12 goals](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Show/England-Leeds) each for the Yorkshire team. However, Helder Costa has been underwhelming, [having scored and assisted just five times](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Show/England-Leeds) and should be replaced by January signing [Ian Poveda](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ian-poveda/leistungsdaten/spieler/392763), who despite having never started, has been on the receiving end of praise from [Pep Guardiola](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/pep-guardiola-heaps-praise-ian-21367742).

While Patrick Bamford has [scored 13 times](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/patrick-bamford/leistungsdaten/spieler/183334) this season, [his potency in front of goal has been rather shocking](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1I_o-mqxKLTnK1rk_qUoLlCXfDh8CVxFL2rTUzJpf5lY/edit#gid=0). Therefore, he should be replaced by Cyle Larin, who according to Takvim [(via Sport Witness)](https://sportwitness.co.uk/leeds-united-ready-make-offer-sign-forward-summer/), is of interest to the side. The £3.6m-rated, [as per Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/cyle-larin/leistungsdaten/spieler/343463), Canadian has been in brilliant form for loan club Zulte Waregem, [contributing to 20 goals in 33 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/cyle-larin/leistungsdaten/spieler/343463) across all competitions.

Whilst it is only the Championship, there is a feeling among some that, due to the nature of the division, it could be one of [the most competitive leagues in the world](https://www.efl.com/news/2018/november/sky-bet-championship-the-most-competitive-league-in-the-world/), making the stats a decent indicator to how good a player is.

***Missing football!? There’s still plenty of Leeds discussion going on in the Vital Leeds Forum! [Click here to get involved!](https://bit.ly/2WAHenJ)***