Leeds United have no transfer leverage amid £100m firesale verdict
Leeds United have done “great business” from a financial perspective but have had no “leverage” in the transfer market this season.
Georginio Rutter is on the cusp of joining Brighton for £40million (Daily Mail), which when added to the sales of Archie Gray (£30m, BBC), Crysencio Summerville (£25m, BBC) and Glen Kamara (£8.4m, LeedsLive) would take their summer sales to over £100m.
That’s not even taking into account the fees they received from the permanent sales of Luis Sinisterra and Tyler Adams to Bournemouth.
Finance expert Plumley thinks that Leeds just had no room for bargaining in some cases due to exit clauses inserted into contracts that top-flight clubs have taken advantage of.
Speaking to MOT Leeds News, he said: “It’s really good business (financially).
“I said before at the time I didn’t think a £100m-plus firesale was needed and I don’t think necessarily some of the departures are needed.
“It’s just the nature of the game that you’re in and if a Premier League club comes looking you’ve got no kind of leverage to keep those players with some of the clauses in there as well.
“On the money side of things, it’s really good business for Leeds United. Of course, they don’t want to lose some of those players, but when you are in the Championship and you have got what are Premier League players and a legacy squad from when you were in that league it’s really hard to keep them.”
Georginio Rutter sale really stings for Leeds United
The sale of Gray was obviously a very tough one to swallow emotionally, seeing a home-grown talent sold largely to alleviate PSR concerns.
Summerville going, while obviously disappointing, felt kind of inevitable after his fantastic campaign in the Championship last term and the sale of Kamara was pretty smart due to the profit they made following his signing from Rangers 12 months ago.
But the Rutter deal came firmly out of the blue and it has left Leeds fans questioning whether the message of “don’t panic” after failing to win promotion has been adhered to.
There is money in the bank now but they need to reinvest that cash and quick because, a bit like last season, they’re into the latter days of the transfer window needing to act late to strengthen their squad.
In other Leeds United news, an injury update has been shared pre-West Brom.
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