Leeds United legend Stuart Dallas has discussed how the club can compete with staunch rivals Manchester United once the 2025/2026 season gets underway, with the club having to get one thing right to do so
Leeds United icon Stuart Dallas believes the club can eclipse bitter rivals Manchester United in the Premier League next season – if they get their recruitment right. Leeds will be returning to the English top flight for 2025/26 after stunning the Championship this season.
With Daniel Farke at the helm, Leeds lost just four times as they claimed 100 points alongside Burnley. However, the Whites topped the division with a superior goal difference.
While 2024/2025 represented a joyous season for Leeds, the same can’t be said for the Red Devils. Under Ruben Amorim, United found themselves finishing in 15th place in the Premier League and losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.
Dallas, 34, now thinks Leeds can push on and challenge Amorim’s team come next season, with reports suggesting that the Whites’ owners, 49ers Enterprises, have made around £100 million available for transfers this summer.
Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football, at the Leeds American Golf for the #RifeDontMiss putting challenge, he said: “The gap is big. That’s common knowledge because promoted teams and how they’ve done in the last number of seasons. I think it is continuing to grow.
“Leeds are in a position where they financially can go and strengthen. You can give me £150m and I can go and spend it. What I’m trying to say is the recruitment has to be right.
“I think Leeds have got that in place this season. I think they’ll have learned from the past and they have the potential to really do something within the next number of years in the Premier League. But again, for me, the recruitment has to be key, which I’m sure it will be.”
Dallas, who called time on his career in 2024 after making 248 appearances for Leeds, also touched upon the club’s Player of the Year for the 2024/25 season, Daniel James.
James played at Old Trafford for three seasons before moving to Elland Road, but Dallas isn’t convinced United will be ruing the decision to let the Welsh star go, despite the leaps and bounds made by the 27-year-old.
“I think Man Utd have had a number of players, obviously like every club, come and go. Dan has obviously found his feet at Leeds and he’s happy. I know his family and that’s settled here,” Dallas added.
“He’s been fantastic this season. He started adding goals and assists and numbers to his game, which maybe previously wasn’t there. He’s always had the talent.
“His pace is electrifying and it was just his end product that was missing. He started to produce that this year. I wouldn’t say Man Utd will look at him and regret letting him go. But certainly, he’s had a really, really good season.”
Dallas was speaking exclusively to Mirror Football at the second #RifeDontMiss Challenge, celebrating the launch of the new RIFE Black Edition putters. To register for the final qualifier and be in with a chance of winning £50,000, sign up here.
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