Leeds United clinched the Championship title with a century of points on Saturday after Manor Solomon’s stoppage-time winner against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.
The Whites had already secured promotion to the Premier League and knew that a win over the Pilgrims would seal the title to go along with it.
Daniel Farke will now be preparing for a season in the Premier League, having been relegated in his only full campaign at that level with Norwich City, as Leeds aim to avoid an instant relegation back down to the Championship.
There will, obviously, be parallels drawn between Marcelo Bielsa’s title-winners, who earned promotion as recently as 2020, and the current set of players ahead of their top-flight season.
The Argentine boss had some terrific players at his disposal during his tenure at Elland Road, including iconic Spanish playmaker Pablo Hernandez, who played a critical role in the 2019/20 title success.
Why Pablo Hernandez was an icon for Leeds
The experienced attacking midfielder arrived in West Yorkshire in 2017 with a big reputation behind him, having played in LaLiga and the Premier League for Valencia and Swansea, assisting 13 goals in two top-flight seasons for the Swans.
Hernandez lived up to the hype that came with him by hitting the ground running with a return of six goals and eight assists in 35 matches in the Championship in his first season at Elland Road.
Leeds opted to appoint Bielsa as their new head coach in the summer of 2018, and it was a move that resulted in Hernandez’s output at the top end of the pitch soaring to new heights.
The Argentine manager deployed a high-pressing, high-intensity, possession-based system that allowed his attacking players to flourish with plenty of touches in the final third.
Appearances
39
36
Goals
12
9
Assists
12
9
Big chances created
16
13
Key passes per game
3.0
2.3
As you can see in the table above, the Spanish magician thrived under Bielsa in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 Championship seasons, scoring 21 goals and providing 21 assists in total.
The right-footed wizard, who could play on the flank or in the middle as an attacking midfielder, was a joy to watch with his ability to score and create goals at an impressive rate. His return of 29 ‘big chances’ created in those two campaigns speaks to just how exciting he was to watch, as the maestro could consistently unlock opposition defences.
Such was the level of adoration and admiration that Leeds supporters had for Hernandez, a group of fans went out to Spain to watch him play for Castellon in 2022, leaving the midfielder in tears on the pitch as they chanted his name.
Leeds could, now, unearth their next version of the iconic wizard by swooping to sign one of their reported transfer targets ahead of their return to the Premier League.
Leeds eyeing move for Premier League attacker
According to Caught Offside, Leeds United are one of a number of teams interested in a deal to sign Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich Town in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that Burnley, Aston Villa, Everton, and West Ham United are also keen on the England U21 international, which means that there could be plenty of competition for his signature ahead of next season.
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It states that Leeds are ‘seriously’ eyeing the young forward up because they want to develop young players and find their next generation of first-team regulars ahead of their return to the top-flight.
Journalist Pete O’Rourke recently claimed that the attacking midfielder has a relegation release clause worth £35m, which will now be active after the Tractor Boys were relegated from the Premier League.
Leeds must act upon their serious interest in the Ipswich star and win the race for his services this summer, because he could come in as the new Pablo Hernandez for the Whites.
Why Omari Hutchinson could be the new Pablo Hernandez for Leeds
Whilst Hutchinson is not a veteran with hundreds of appearances in LaLiga and the Premier League combined, the 21-year-old star would arrive with 29 top-flight matches already under his belt.
He is also very similar to Pablo Hernandez in style. Like the former Leeds man, the English ace predominantly plays as either a right-winger or as an attacking midfielder, and likes to drift inside into central positions even when he starts out wide.
Hutchinson, as you can see in the clip above, is comfortable when taking the ball under pressure in central areas around the box, and has the quality to make things happen in those situations.
The left-footed star, who was dubbed “dazzling” by Statman Dave, has scored three goals and provided two assists in 28 appearances in the Premier League, whilst playing for a struggling team that have already been relegated to the Championship.
It was his form in the second tier for the Tractor Boys in the 2023/24 campaign, however, that suggests that he has the potential to be the next Pablo Hernandez at Elland Road.
Appearances (starts)
44 (20)
xG
5.22
Goals
10
Big chances created
7
xA
5.18
Assists
5
As you can see in the table above, Hutchinson caught the eye in the Championship last term with his ability to score and create goals from a wide or central attacking midfield role.
The 21-year-old talent produced 15 direct goal contributions in just 20 starts for Ipswich, on loan from Chelsea at the time, and this shows that he has the potential to deliver consistent quality at the top end of the pitch.
Therefore, Hutchinson is a player who has all the attributes and positional qualities to emerge as Hernandez 2.0 for Leeds under Farke next season, as a versatile attacking midfielder who can produce moments of magic to excite supporters on a regular basis.
At the age of 21, the left-footed ace would also come in as a long-term asset who could develop and improve during the course of his career at Elland Road, making it an exciting signing for the short-term and for the future.
Better signing than Solomon: Leeds lining up move for £25m "machine"
Leeds United could land an even better signing than Manor Solomon by signing this £25m star.
ByDan EmeryMay 2, 2025