Leeds United are a Premier League club, and they are here to stay.

That might not sound like much, but after three seasons away from the top flight and the chaos of the Championship years, securing survival at the first attempt deserves real credit.

14th and 44 points, with potentially more still to come, represents a solid return for a newly-promoted side, and Daniel Farke's men can head into the summer knowing the hard part — staying up — is done.

It has not always been comfortable.

There were sticky patches, tight margins and nervy afternoons along the way. But Leeds got the job done when it mattered, and their safety was confirmed with games to spare.

Compare that to Tottenham and West Ham, who are still sweating towards the final day, and the picture looks considerably healthier from Elland Road.

For a club that many tipped to struggle, this has been a campaign to be quietly proud of, especially after they reached their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987.

Now comes the exciting part.

With top-flight status secured, Leeds can plan with clarity and ambition. The recruitment department has been working behind the scenes for weeks, and the aim is clear: add the quality needed to push into the top half next season and make this more than just a survival story.

One target they went after, however, has slipped through their fingers.

Wolves star Joao Gomes responds to Leeds transfer offer

According to Brazilian journalist Pablo Oliveira, Leeds have made an offer for Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, but the 25-year-old has turned them down.

Leeds were not the only ones left disappointed, either.

Zenit, Atalanta and Galatasaray all tabled proposals for the Brazil international, with some of their offers described as 'financially superior' to the one eventually accepted.

Gomes chose Atlético Madrid, viewing a move to the Spanish capital as a unique opportunity he was not prepared to pass up.

It is hard to blame him.

Atletico are closing in on a deal worth around £39m for a player who has been one of the most consistent midfielders in the Premier League since arriving from Flamengo in January 2023.

Gomes made 34 league appearances this season — more than almost any other Wolves player — contributing one goal and one assist while racking up nearly 2,750 minutes of action.

Even in a team that finished bottom, his standards rarely dropped.

Wolves had initially valued Gomes at around £50m, but their relegation weakened their negotiating position considerably.

The club's eight-year stay in the Premier League ended in grim fashion — they lost their opening five games, never climbed off the bottom of the table, and became the second club in history to lose to all 19 opponents in a single campaign.

With the financial realities of Championship football now biting, selling Gomes at a reduced price was always the most likely outcome.

For Leeds, missing out is a disappointment, but the fact they were in the conversation at all tells its own story.

Gomes' profile — aggressive, tactically disciplined, comfortable in possession, a full Brazil international — would have represented a serious statement of intent.

The notion Leeds were prepared to put a concrete offer on the table for a player of that calibre suggests there is both appetite and budget for meaningful business this summer.

The question now is where they turn next.

The club's broader plans are still taking shape, but the ambition is evident.