Leeds United could be under pressure to sell players amid £190m Elland Road development
Leeds United could be under pressure to sell players this summer if they don’t achieve promotion back to the Premier League, according to Dan Plumley.
It comes after the Whites’ latest accounts revealed that they owe up to £190million in transfer fees, with £73million of that total due to be paid by the end of June.
The football finance expert has insisted that the club may be forced to part ways with some of their highest earners if they don’t make an immediate return to the top flight this season.
“I think the Augustin situation and the way the finances looked with the wage bill kind of prior to relegation, I think if Leeds weren’t to get promoted back to the Premier League this season, it’s always likely you would see player sales anyway,” he exclusively told MOT Leeds News.
“Those other factors are kind of other aggravating factors, but there is certainly a lot of talent in that squad and, if it doesn’t work out for Leeds, it’s likely other clubs will come looking as well. Again, we know nowadays that every other club knows the financial situation of every other club.
“If there is a pressure to sell and there are some kind of not critical warning signs but there are some numbers in those accounts that would suggest that there is a bit of shifting around that needs to be done potentially with the wage bill and coping with the reduction in revenue.
“You’ve also got the Augustin thing over the top. It is likely that, if Leeds weren’t to get promoted, you would see potentially some movement in players and then, unfortunately from a fans point of view, you’re potentially looking at some of those biggest earners that command the highest fees.
“A lot of that does hinge upon where the season finishes, but it’s always the way with clubs that have been relegated from the Premier League.
“If you don’t get back there very quickly, there comes a pressure to sell because of the financial gap between the leagues as well.”
Could Leeds United be forced to sell players?
It would be a massive blow for Leeds if they don’t achieve an instant return to the Premier League after putting themselves in a strong position in the promotion race.
It would potentially make it a much harder job for them to go back up next season, with Plumley suggesting some of their better players may need to be sold.
That certainly raises the stakes for Daniel Farke’s side over the coming weeks as many of them will no doubt be desperate to have another crack at the top flight with the Whites.
In other Leeds United news, Graham Smyth has shared a “serious” admission after the Whites posted their accounts.
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