Leeds United will launch another bid for Premier League football next season having narrowly missed out on the play-offs last year, after a stuttering end to the campaign.

Garry Monk was relieved of his duties for failing to secure a top six finish, and new boss Thomas Christiansen will begin his new role with the hopes and dreams of a city upon his shoulders.

The former Spain international’s first challenge may be prolific striker Chris Wood, who is subject to the interest of a number of clubs in both the Premier League and Championship.

Keeping 27-goal Wood will be key to the Denmark born former Spanish international's plans, but if the Kiwi does depart Elland Road then he will certainly need to be replaced.

Christiansen may look abroad to find his replacement, and a move for AZ Alkmaar’s Wout Weghorst may be a viable option.

Weghorst only joined the Dutch outfit in the summer of 2016 from Heracles, but a prolific first season in Alkmaar in which the striker recorded 17 goals has alerted several clubs to his availability.

Should Wood leave this summer, he will command a sizeable fee which will surely be reinvested into the squad.

If Christiansen can convince Weghorst that Leeds are genuine promotion candidates with aspirations of Premier League football, then a move to England should prove too hard to resist for the Dutchman.

Alkmaar missed out on European football after a play off defeat to Utrecht in which they threw away a 3-0 first leg advantage, so Weghorst has no promise of a European adventure waiting for him with his current club.

At 6”5, Weghorst is built in the mould of Wood, and would be the perfect replacement.

It would be an ambitious move, but if a deal for the player could be pulled off, then Leeds would acquire a fantastic striker with money left over from any deal for Wood.