Tony Dorigo says the onus is on Leeds United to add real quality to their squad this summer but even if they do, the focus will still be on avoiding relegation in 2026-27.

The Whites had a very positive first campaign back in the Premier League, finishing 14th with a very strong second half of the season which also took them to the FA Cup semi-finals.

But manager Daniel Farke has warned a second season in the division will be as difficult as the first, and title-winning left-back Dorigo is in complete agreement.

"You look at the records of teams that do stay up, you get it slightly wrong and you're going to be in bother," he warned. "That's not just the ones that have come up - look at Tottenham, West Ham, anyone that doesn't get it right can have a struggle.

New arrival: Harry Wilson of Fulham was the first of Leeds United's summer signings for the new season ahead (Picture: Getty)

placeholder image — New arrival: Harry Wilson of Fulham was the first of Leeds United's summer signings for the new season ahead (Picture: Getty)

"We've only been up there the one season so we are definitely no different. But I think what is important is that now we're trying to take that next step, we're building the platform.

"We got promotion, we needed numbers, we needed the right type of players to survive. Now we need fewer players, but we need to up the quality. It's a path to hopefully a steady improvement.

"Then, of course, it's all about staying in the Premier League for a long, long time and then looking higher up the table. But from my point of view, this season is all about once again, first thing, trying to just get above that bottom pack."

Leeds have thus far only signed Harry Wilson and Tairk Muharemovic, whilst losing Karl Darlow and Pascal Struijk from last season's strongest XI. But Dorigo believes in this of all summers, patience will be vital.

"I think so many people and clubs when the World Cup was going on were just jockeying into position," he argued. "But once one player goes somewhere, it's like a domino effect and hopefully then we can pounce on the target that we've looked at.

"I think Wilson is an excellent signing, really good.

"We need to add quality rather than quantity this time so you won't be signing 10, we'll be signing five or six.

"Pascal (joining Brighton and Hove Albion for £20m) is a blow, simple as that.

"He's been an excellent servant.

"But you can understand what he would like to do with his career and then you can understand the club's point of view that they had to act and get that fee.

"If you look at the fee they're spending on Muharemovic (£34.1m), it shows the intent and the seriousness.

"Pre-season is always an important time - you want your players in as soon as you can, clearly, but it doesn't always work out that way so I think we have to be patient.

"In previous windows, that patience really has paid off because I think the signings we've made in the last few windows have been excellent, really good. So I think we all just need to be a little patient."