Leeds Premier League Odds: Whites at risk of instant return

After play-off final heartache last year, Leeds United secured their return to the Premier League in style, picking up 100 points to claim the EFL Championship title on goal difference ahead of runners-up Burnley. Survival will be the only thing on the Whites' minds now, though, ahead of a return to the top tier of English football.

Below are Betfred's Leeds Premier League Odds, accompanied by a discussion on their upcoming campaign and who is likely to be their main man.

Leeds scored 95 Championship goals last season, 24 more than the next-highest, Norwich City (71), with Golden Boot winner Joel Piroe (19) joined on double figures by Dan James (12) and Manor Solomon (10). The latter has returned to parent club Tottenham Hotspur, though, while there are doubts over how many Piroe and James will net in the Premier League.

Lukas Nmecha (VFL Wolfsburg) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) have been signed to support the existing forward line, but Nmecha only struck three times in the Bundesliga last season, the same number Calvert-Lewin managed for Everton, with both hampered by injuries.

Premier League Odds

The Whites have made moves behind, too, signing centre-backs Jaka Bijol (Udinese) and Sebastiaan Bornauw (VFL Wolfsburg), as well as left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson (Lille OSC), to boost their defence, while Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United) and Anton Stach (Hoffenheim) will strengthen Daniel Farke's side in the middle of midfield.

Yet, while they all appear to be decent signings, there is such a bridge in quality to overcome from the Championship to the Premier League, as evidenced by last season's bottom three, Ipswich Town, Southampton and Leicester City, who all returned to the second tier at the first time of asking.

Transfer Business:

In: Lukas Nmecha, Sebastiaan Bornauw (both VFL Wolfsburg), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Lucas Perri (Olympique Lyonnais), Anton Stach (Hoffenheim), Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United), Jaka Bijol (Udinese), Gabriel Gudmundsson (Lille OSC).

Out: Rasmus Kristensen (Eintracht Frankfurt), Junior Firpo (Real Betis), Joshua Guilavogui (free agent), Joe Gelhardt (loan, Hull City), Mateo Joseph (loan, Real Mallorca), Max Wober (loan, Werder Bremen).

Key Player: Lucas Perri

Farke finally lost faith with French goalkeeper Illan Meslier, following a string of high-profile errors, towards the end of last season, replacing him with veteran shot-stopper Karl Darlow.

The Whites subsequently signed Lucas Perri from Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais, and the Brazilian looks likely to go straight in as their new number one.

Football Odds

Despite their forwards blitzing the Championship last season, I'm not convinced their attack is Premier League standard yet, and that means they will have to be rock-solid defensively to stand a chance of survival.

It could be a long season for Leeds, who will hope that Perri can prove to be the difference for them.

Prediction: 19th

Sorry Leeds fans, but I'm predicting an instant return to the Championship.

At the time of writing, I just can't back the Whites to finish above an Everton, a West Ham, a Manchester United, a Wolves, or a Tottenham Hotspur - all sides who finished 13th and lower in last season's Premier League.

It really is as simple as that, in that the above teams have too much quality in their ranks, and/or expertise in their coaching staff.

I think Leeds can give it a good go, but ultimately, will fall short in their quest for survival.

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