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Elliott Jackson

Leeds United fans vindicate recruitment policy as Marcelo Bielsa's squad get vote of confidence

Leeds United fans have underlined the harmony at the club after handing out 96+% approval ratings to 11 first-team players in our latest survey.

The Whites have added three new faces to the squad this summer, with Junior Firpo joining Jack Harrison and Amari Miller on permanent deals.

Quality over quantity has been the clear message from the Leeds recruitment team and that stance has is vindicated by fan approval over the current squad.

In a survey by LeedsLive, that received just short of 5,000 responses, on which members of the squad should be retained, sold or loaned, 11 members of the first team received a 96+% vote of confidence.

100% of voters insisted that Illan Meslier and Raphinha should stay at Elland Road, with fans' favourites such as Kalvin Phillips, Luke Ayling, Robin Koch, Diego Llorente, Stuart Dallas and Jack Harrison receiving 99% votes.

Pascal Struijk, Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo Moreno make up the 11 payers to have been retained by 96% or more of voters.

The player that Leeds fans want to see leave the most is Kiko Casilla, who is widely expected to join Elche on a season-long loan in the next week.

The Spaniard has struggled for form since moving from Real Madrid and his unhappy 30-month stay at Elland Road looks likely to end, as 87% of voters would like.

Supporters would also like to see the club cash in on Helder Costa, with 73% of voters stating they would like to see the Portuguese winger sold. Costa has flattered to deceive since joining Leeds on loan in 2019, a deal which was then made permanent last summer.

Adam Forshaw was the next in line to be sold but at a much lower 59% after an injury-ravished two-year spell. 17% of voters said they would loan out the former Brentford and Wigan midfielder.

Leif Davis, Charlie Cresswell, Nial Huggins, Alfie McCalmont, Jack Jenkins and Mateusz Bogusz all received 50+% votes to leave the club on loan and further their development.

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