With the clear target for Leeds United this season being automatic promotion, it is only natural that the club have begun to plan for the future not only on the pitch, but off it, with the club having discussed their plans for a new training ground as far back as May 2018.

And now the wheels are seemingly in motion with the club having received good news - as per Leeds Live - from the City Council, who have reportedly backed the club's plans to construct a new facility on the site of a school's playing fields.

The proposed development is said to cost the Yorkshire based club a fee in the region of £25 million, with the features of the new training ground said to be built in line with the club's long held Premier League ambitions.

That was alluded to in an article by Leeds Live,  which stated that the training ground will be an: "Integral part of the Leeds United's ambitions to locate and develop all of their training ground needs and requirements into a training facility of Category 1 status, required by the Premier League."

Is this the WORST Leeds United XI from the last 15 years? We'll let YOU decide....

This is a vital move for the football club with the lease of their current training ground set to run out in 2027, meaning that there is a high priority for the club to make the move closer to the city centre.

It was also pointed out in the piece by Leeds Live that the club have made it clear that the club would be willing to allow the school to "use the upgraded pitches during school hours." A move that will no doubt rub off well on the local community, with residents having previously expressed their objections to the plans in hand.

The Verdict 

This would be a massive step forward for Leeds United as a whole, with the club seemingly making a charge for promotion to the Premier League this season, it is important that they plan for the future in order to get every area of the club up to the standards that it needs to be at.

The development will also help the club to maintain their highly successful youth production line that has consistently produced players that have gone on to play in the Premier League, such as Aaron Lennon and the late Gary Speed.

Lastly, with the development not set to be completed any time soon, it is best for Leeds to maintain their focus on making the grade on the pitch before worrying about keeping with the times off it.