Leeds United winger Jordan Botaka believes if the Whites were playing in the Dutch Eredivisie then they would challenge for the title.

The DR Congo international played in the Dutch top flight for Excelsior before moving to Leeds last summer when he was snapped up by former Whites head coach Uwe Rosler.




Botaka had an up and down season at Elland Road, dropping out of the first team picture before then fighting his way back towards the end of the campaign.

Leeds never threatened to challenge for promotion from the Championship to the Premier League and finished just 13th in the table.
 


But Botaka thinks that too much should not be read into the level of the team through their league finish and he believes if they played in the Netherlands they would fight for the title.

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"This Leeds United would push most in the Eredivisie for the title", he told Dutch magazine Voetbal International.

"I am not saying we would be champions, but I am convinced we would be near the top."

And the ex-Excelsior man is optimistic about Leeds' promotion chances next season.

"With one or two immediate reinforcements, next season we will go all out for promotion to the Premier League – that's where this club belongs", Botaka added.

The winger will have a new head coach to impress at Leeds over pre-season following the appointment of former Swansea City boss Garry Monk.