Kieran Maguire sends transfer message to Leeds United fans live on talkSPORT in financial verdict
Leeds United and their owners 49ers Enterprises are not in “crisis” but they are unlikely to spend big in the transfer market, according to Kieran Maguire.
Daniel Farke’s side missed out on promotion to the Premier League following their disappointing defeat to Southampton in the playoff final and are therefore expected to sell some star players this summer.
While that remains a distinct possibility, football finance expert Maguire insists the Whites are in a “reasonably good” position with regards to financial fair play and instead face a “cash management issue”.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Tuesday (28 May, 11:52) he said: “Their allowable losses as far as FFP is concerned will drop, it will drop to £61million over three years.
“I think Leeds are actually in a reasonably good position in regards to that, they have sold players in the past 12 to 24 months. There is a slightly more concerning issue, which again I don’t think is a crisis but it is far from perfect.
“When Leeds were in the Premier League they spent £355million over three seasons and a lot of those deals were on credit. That’s perfectly normal, but if you get relegated you’ve not got the cash that is coming in from the Premier League to the same extent.
“At the end of last summer, they owed £190million in outstanding transfer fees, which will have to be settled over 2024 and 2025 and possibly some over 2026 as well so that is more of a cash management issue and that then comes down to the owners.
“There’s not a crisis because they do have San Francisco 49ers behind them and they do have sellable assets. Leeds will still be the biggest fish in the Championship next season.
“If Leeds fans thought we can go heavy in the summer transfer market, that enthusiasm might be tempered because they’ve got outstanding football debts to pay and then they’ll have to work out their wage budget over the course of next season.”
Will Leeds United and Daniel Farke have to sell players in the summer transfer window?
There has been a feeling of doom and gloom around Elland Road in the last couple of days following the playoff final defeat as there seems to be a feeling that this season could have immense financial repercussions.
While that may be the case, Leeds United have incredibly wealthy owners who are able to back the Whites financially and a number of players who could be sold for reasonable fees if the books have to be balanced.
The likes of Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto or Georginio Rutter would all fetch good transfer fees and even though most fans won’t want to see them leave, it may be a price that the Whites have to pay.
As Maguire suggests, Farke’s side will still be in an excellent position to bounce back into the Premier League next term. Whether they do it or not is another question, but the pathway is there for them.
In other Leeds United news, a new update has emerged surrounding Bayern Munich’s interest in Archie Gray this summer
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