£5m Leeds United midfielder makes ‘establish’ claim as the Whites prepare for the Premier League

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Leeds United’s 2024/25 campaign has been relatively straightforward, barring a small wobble at the end of March, and they are now preparing for their final Championship game for at least a year.

The Whites know that all they must do is match Burnley’s result against Millwall this weekend, as Daniel Farke’s side make the long journey down to Devon to face Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	45	28	13	4	93	29	64	97
2	BurnleyBurnley	45	27	16	2	66	15	51	97
3	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	45	28	7	10	62	35	27	89
4	SunderlandSunderland	45	21	13	11	58	43	15	76
5	Bristol CityBristol City	45	17	16	12	57	53	4	67
6	CoventryCoventry	45	19	9	17	62	58	4	66

Leeds’ opponents have been all but relegated from the second tier following Luton Town’s 1-0 win over Coventry City last Saturday, and they would require a 14 goal swing to stay in the division.

Nevertheless, there is still a task at hand for the Whites, and their supporters will travel down to the south-west anticipating that they will see their team lift the title for the second time in five years, although either Leeds or Burnley will set a Championship record this weekend.

With the champagne certain to be bubbling in Plymouth for the away supporters, one of their key players in the heart of the midfield has already been looking ahead to the challenge of the Premier League.

Ilia Gruev evaluates Leeds United’s chances in the Premier League

Injuries have stopped Ilia Gruev from playing as many games as he would have liked to this season. However, the holding midfielder, who, as per the Yorkshire Evening Post cost the Whites £5m in the summer of 2023, has been favoured by Farke when he has been available.

In Leeds’ last five matches, he has played every minute, helping his side to 15 points in this time and he will be hoping that he can help carry this form over into next season.

The Bulgarian international has been looking forward to the challenge of the Premier League, and how his team may fair. He said (via: Ostthüringer Zeitung): “For me, it’s the best league in the world – I moved here to play there. I’m already really looking forward to the duels against Liverpool, Arsenal, and the like.

“With all the power that Leeds United has, we’re certainly not your average promoted team. We naturally want to establish ourselves in the Premier League.”

The Whites spent three years in the top flight during their last stay, with a ninth-place finish in 2020/21 their highest league position since 2002, and Gruev may be looking to recreate some of that success from earlier in the 21st century.

Leeds United know of the challenge of the Premier League already

While the Championship has been comfortable at times for Leeds this season, they know that a return to the Premier League will be tough as the three promoted sides from 2023/24 all return to the second tier.

It’s the second time in a row that this has happened, and the Whites will have to have an extremely strong summer if they are to be able to compete in the division and ensure that they do not suffer the same fate as Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton.

Leeds and Burnley have already been warned about the challenge of the Premier League, but Farke has experience in the division and will be hoping that he can use this to right some of his own wrongs.

He will also needs the likes of Gruev to stay fit throughout the course of the campaign, with consistency in the starting XI a target for the midfielder ahead of the biggest season of his career.