Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe drops hint on Tyler Adams future after 49ers takeover
New Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe has made clear that he wants to keep star players for Daniel Farke’s promotion push after the 49ers takeover was completed.
The EFL confirmed the deal for the American enterprises to take full control from Andrea Radrizzani on Monday (17 July) and the long-awaited announcement followed, allowing full focus to now turn onto the plans for the new season.
The likes of Willy Gnonto and Jack Harrison have been attracting transfer interest but are wanted at Elland Road for the new season, while Marathe appeared to drop a major clue as the chances of keeping USMNT captain Tyler Adams in place for the Championship campaign.
Speaking on the Official Leeds United podcast (18 July, 15m 30s) in answer to a question from Matt Lewis about the club becoming a “household name” in the US Marathe said: “I think that’s maybe a byproduct of it because I think we have a big enough and fun enough task in the UK and Yorkshire itself. It’s so much bigger that the club can be in the UK.
“There’s 2.4million people in Yorkshire and Leeds is what, the third-largest city in the UK? There’s so much opportunity there already.
“And sure, if a nice little byproduct is I get the opportunity to see folks wearing Tyler Adams jerseys around the Bay Area that’s going to be fantastic too.”
The chairman admitted that some of those questions are “still fluid” but with regards to promotion said later (23m 50s): “We also want to double down with a high quality ‘squad, to keep as many guys as we can, to be able to bounce back up.
“I want to give [Farke] all the resources that he needs off the pitch, but also maximise the resources that we can keep on the pitch.”
Asking directly about confidence on keeping key men he answered: “We’re trying to, we’re doing our best.”
Hopeful
It’s clearly a huge relief for all involved that the Radrizzani era is officially over and the 49ers’ ownership can start in earnest.
Incoming transfers are going to be the chief concern of most supporters now, with Ethan Ampadu on his way in from Chelsea for £7m plus add-ons, and Sam Byram set to follow on a free transfer.
But not far behind will be the futures of current Whites stars such as Adams and Gnonto, so the obvious intention to keep them is encouraging.
Nothing can be 100% certain until the transfer window closes, and as a Championship side it is a challenge to hold off advances from the Premier League or top flight European leagues.
But Marathe will have been preparing to do media interviews once he was confirmed as chairman, and he has had longer than anyone really wanted in order to do so.
So it is unlikely that he would have suggested by mistake that San Francisco-based supporters would be wearing Adams jerseys if the 24-year-old is set to imminently depart for any of the top flight clubs linked to a move.
With Everton apparently struggling to make a breakthrough for Gnonto as well hopes are clearly going to be raised at this point that stronger Leeds United performers from the relegation season are going to remain at the club.
In other Leeds United news, a controversial signing is now a “serious” consideration but fans might not be impressed by developments.