Leeds United officially confirmed their first signing of the summer transfer window earlier this week with the arrival of Welsh forward Harry Wilson on a free transfer.

The left-footed attacker has put pen to paper on a four-year deal to bolster Daniel Farke's attacking ranks after his contract with Fulham expired at the start of this month.

He arrives in West Yorkshire off the back of the most productive top-flight season of his career, scoring ten goals and providing seven assists in the Premier League last season.

It will now be interesting to see where the Wales international fits in for the German head coach, after the Whites played a 3-4-2-1 or 3-5-2 shape for the majority of the 2025/26 campaign.

Harry Wilson's arrival could signal a change in approach from Leeds United

Despite the change to a three-back formation eventually leading the club to a 14th-placed finish in the Premier League, Farke has spoken of his desire to move back to a more possession-dominant style that puts the team on the front foot.

The Leeds boss has favoured a four-back formation, whether that is a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1, for the majority of his coaching career, at Norwich, Leeds, and Borussia Monchengladbach, and the signing of Wilson suggests that he is leaning back to his preference.

In 187 competitive appearances for Fulham, the Welsh forward only started nine matches in a central position, whilst starting 151 matches as a right-sided forward.

That does not suggest that he is suited to playing as a narrow striker or as a number ten in a 3-5-2 or as one of two number tens in a 3-4-2-1, which is why it could be a sign that Farke is looking to build towards a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation long-term.

Wilson could be the starting right winger in a 4-3-3 formation, for example, cutting in on his left foot from the right flank to provide goals and assists on a regular basis.

It is not only the signing of the former Fulham man that indicates a change in system, though, as the German boss is also in the market to add more options to his midfield.

Despite already having Ao Tanaka, Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach, Ilia Gruev, and Sean Longstaff as central midfield options, TEAMtalk reports that Leeds United have made contact with Parma over a deal to sign Mandela Keita.

The outlet claims that an offer of £26m would be enough to see a bid accepted for the Belgian star, who is also being looked at by Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Everton.

It adds that the Whites are exploring a deal for the 24-year-old talent because they have already had two bids turned down by Southampton for Shea Charles and are struggling to reach an agreement with the Championship team.

If the club can agree a deal with Parma, Keita could arrive at Elland Road as a better option than Tanaka to fill the third midfield slot in a potential 4-3-3 formation.

Assuming Ampadu and Stach take up the first two slots, the Belgian could play ahead of the Japan international because of his far superior defensive and physical capabilities in the middle of the park.

The 24-year-old star, who also completed 88% of his attempted passes in the Serie A, could be more reliable than Tanaka on a week-to-week basis because of his physical attributes, whilst he has already proven himself in one of Europe's major leagues.

Like Wilson, Keita could arrive as an upgrade on what Farke had at his disposal last season and help him to move back to a 4-3-3 formation because they both play in key roles for that system, on the right wing and in the middle of the park.

It is the Belgian ace, though, who could be the better signing in the long run because he is five years younger than Wilson and has the potential to be Farke's starting midfielder for many more years to come, and has more time left ahead of him to develop and improve.

Wilson, who turns 30 next season, may not have much sell-on value or be a long-term star for the Whites, but Keita has the potential to a success in both the short and long-term at Elland Road.