Leeds United have been punching at the top of the Championship for most of the campaign and there's real hope on the paddocks that Garry Monk can lead his side through the play-offs, and back into the Premier League come the end of the stadium.

The Whites have been extremely consistent for most of the campaign and for the first time in years, we're seeing a Leeds side that look like they have more than enough in the tank to reach the play-off final and potentially even win it too.

But away from this current crop, there have been some real stars to turn out for the Whites over the years that in the opinion of the fans, were moved on far too quickly by club bosses.

It can be argued that this resulted in their ultimate relegation at the turn of the century and in short, their inability to get back into the Premier League.

So with that in mind, here's the FIVE Leeds United players that were sold on far too quickly by Leeds United at the time...

James Milner

James Milner came all the way through the Leeds United youth team ranks and when he emerged in 2002, it was clear the Whites had a real player on their hands.

He became the youngest ever scorer in the Premier League after scoring against Sunderland but his career took a backseat when Peter Reid took over at the club.

Eddie Gray then restored him back into the first-team but he was sold in 2004 after the club's relegation to keep funds coming in.

Obviously looking back, he was a player that has turned out to be a real England international and a man that Leeds sold far too quickly to make a quick buck.

Andy Ritchie

Andy Ritchie begun his career at Manchester United before moving to Brighton and Hove Albion in 1980. The midfielder was a hard-working skillful player who was eventually signed by Leeds in 1983 and had five seriously successful years at Elland Road, making 149 stars and scoring 44 goals.

But unfortunately for Whites fans at the time, Ritchie and the the club couldn't agree terms for a new dean and it 1987, he was sold to Oldham Athletic where he played over 250 times.

He was a player that left far too early because of money when in hindsight, the Whites probably should have offered him a better deal. They really lost out.

Ian Harte

Another player who found real fame as a result of Leeds United's Champions League run at the turn of the millennia, there were very real reports at the time linking left-back Ian Harte with moves to both Real Madrid and Barcelona.

When he eventually left Elland Road after more than 250 appearances and 39 goals, he joined Levante, where he suffered relegation, promotion and had his contract cancelled 12 months early.

Should he have stayed at Leeds? Probably.

Robbie Keane

One of the finest goalscorers the Republic of Ireland has ever seen, Robbie Keane quickly rose to prominence with Wolves, where his ability to find the back of the net were quickly noted by Coventry City, who paid £6million to bring him across to the Midlands.

He changed clubs in quick succession before joining Leeds United for £12million, having been signed by David O'Leary. They sold him just one year later though, after Keane struggled to make the first-team week-in, week-out.

They recouped just £7million for the Irishman, which suggests why the debt at the club was so bad during those famous years.

Sam Byram

One of the more recent Leeds United stars, Sam Byram was sold to West Ham United during the summer of 2015 for a fee reported to be around £4milion.

He's struggled to get into the West Ham United side this season though, despite there being plenty of promise surrounding his future when he first moved to the club.

At the time though, many Whites fans thought the fee was far too low for a player expected to be a future England international but could we see him return to Elland Road next season? Perhaps so, especially if the Hammers send him out on-loan.