Leeds United's first season back in the top flight has surpassed expectations, an unqualified success if ever there was one.
The team have soared into the safety of mid-table, rubbing shoulders with Arsenal, Everton and Aston Villa, not dissimilar to the days of old.
Marcelo Bielsa's side have come through a difficult April schedule unscathed, unbeaten in their last six games, placing third in the form table.
Not only is this a tremendous feat for a side tipped to burnout in the latter stages of the competition, it reflects the professionalism with which the team approach each game.
The Whites have fended off attacks from each of the 'Big Six' clubs, except Tottenham, at Elland Road with each one failing to leave with all three points.
One such club who did leave Elland Road having seen off Leeds were Leicester City - 4-1 winners back in November 2020.
That evening, Leicester showed Leeds supporters what it would take to break into the top six, with a well-stocked, well-drilled squad, brimming with multiple first-team options.
It demonstrated that Andrea Radrizzani's comments were rather on the nose, that Leicester would be a club Leeds should look to emulate in time.
Given that Leeds have likely surpassed even Radrizzani's most optimistic of pre-season expectations this year, his aspirations of mimicking Leicester's bid to break the 'Big Six' cabal could be achieved sooner rather than later.
However, there remains an obstacle in the way, and it is the one task which cannot be completed in a single summer or a single transfer window.
Leicester City's squad building is some of the best in the country. They are a club who sell their best players when their value is highest, with replacements ready to step in having already been acquired.
Harry Maguire, Riyad Mahrez, Danny Drinkwater and N'golo Kante left in four consecutive years for considerable fees, allowing the Foxes to rebuild year-on-year.
Youri Tielemans, Caglar Soyuncu, Wesley Fofana, James Maddison and co were all brought in for lesser fees.
£30 million of that was reinvested into back-up striker Kelechi Iheanacho who is finally proving his worth in a Leicester shirt.
Jamie Vardy has been near enough ever-present throughout Leicester's Premier League adventure, and despite the differing styles, bears an abstract resemblance to Patrick Bamford.
Bamford has done more than enough to earn his place in Bielsa's starting XI next season, but Leeds lack a back-up centre-forward of Premier League quality.
It is a transfer tightrope Victor Orta and Radrizzani will need to walk.
Do the club pursue a striker at the risk of unsettling Bamford, knowing that their investment, likely to be sizeable given the market for centre-forwards, could appear to be wasted?
It is a pursuit which will test the resolve of Leeds' financial backers, but one which is necessary if Leeds' ultimate ambition is to return to European competition.
Next season would be too soon for the squad Leeds currently have to compete on multiple fronts. Only at centre-back do Leeds have enough depth to play twice weekly, often in far-flung destinations.
Iheanacho's recent scoring form is a good example of the patience Leeds may well need to have in order to build a squad ready for the next step in Radrizzani's plan for the future.
