Credit: Imago

Aheed Abrar

Thu 2 April 2026 13:10, UK

Leeds United had a £ 102.7 million wage bill last season, which included bonuses after winning promotion to the Premier League.

If Newcastle United’s non-cash provision from the 2016-17 season are stripped out, the Whites’ wage bill will be the second-highest in the division’s history behind Leicester City’s £107.2m in the 2023-24 campaign.

The Foxes were promoted to the Premier League as champions a couple of seasons back but now find themselves in a Championship relegation battle.

While several factors are undoubtedly at play in the East Midlands club’s downfall, their exorbitant spending on players and coaching staff has eventually come back to bite them.

Leeds can’t make the same mistake under the 49ers and Paraag Marathe will surely hope Daniel Farke can help the West Yorkshire outfit survive in the Premier League.

Leeds United set for mass exodus with Premier League failure

Leeds could potentially see their top players leave in the upcoming transfer window if they fail to avoid relegation.

That would undoubtedly lead to uncertainty at Elland Road about what the future holds, with a repeat of what has happened at Leicester surely possible if the 49ers aren’t careful.

While fans want the Whites to spend as much money as possible to make further progress, the American owners should be diligent with the club’s finances.

As things stand, the West Yorkshire outfit are four points ahead of 18th-place West Ham United with seven games to go and survival is in their hands.

Going back down will arguably be a major setback for the Peacocks, with possible ramifications of rebuilding their team under a new head coach in the Championship.

Paraag Marathe must be more effective at Elland Road

Leeds have spent considerably more than Sunderland in the last two transfer windows on agent fees, despite the Wearside outfit signing a significant number of players.

The Whites evidently haven’t got value for their money at Elland Road this season, with Regis Le Bris’ team sitting 10 points clear of them.

Marathe has talked up the idea of re-establishing the West Yorkshire outfit in the English top flight, but risks ridicule in LS11 if that doesn’t happen soon.

The American owners have brought new recruitment ideas with them to England, but it remains to be seen whether they have been effective enough.