Leeds United use leverage v AC Milan to seal significant new benefits
Leeds United enjoyed a successful pre-season on the pitch and will want to carry the momentum into the Premier League.
Daniel Farke's side drew with Manchester United in Stockholm and got another taste of their impending rivalry in the top flight.
Leeds completed their pre-season against AC Milan in Dublin, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw.
Indeed, the Peacocks should have been handed a healthy financial boost from the clash, where 50,000 Leeds fans descended on the Aviva Stadium.
This article contains exclusive comments from Dr Dan Plumley on MOT Leeds News
Leeds United benefit more than AC Milan from Dublin finale
Leeds' clash with AC Milan threw up several fascinating storylines ahead of the new campaign.
Jack Harrison could be set for a role at Elland Road, while Farke fired a transfer warning to the 49ers.
The match was held in Dublin because of the Whites' Irish fanbase, while it provided a neutral venue and the perfect setting for Leeds' final pre-season game.
Now, football finance expert Dan Plumley - speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News - has weighed in on the match.
- Dublin provided a neutral venue for the two clubs
- Leeds have a significant Irish fanbase
- The Aviva is regarded as an excellent sporting venue
"Any money you can generate from any kind of pre-season friendly is good money, isn't it?" he said.
"It's not a far trip. It's a good venue, there's a lot of synergy, we know it's a sporting venue in a sporting city.
"There's loads of tales there that they'll have looked at, and overall, the majority of those fans in that stadium would have been Leeds fans, so Leeds will get some significant benefit from that, and it's absolutely about that.
"You don't have to fly millions of miles to get some leverage. You can do it a lot more local, and certainly a big fixture like that in a big sporting venue would have benefited Leeds more so than AC Milan for sure."
Leeds vs Everton to throw up several storylines
With pre-season complete, attention can now turn to the Peacocks' top-flight clash with Everton.
Both sides have been trying to get deals over the line of late, and the match will throw up some intriguing storylines.
Harrison spent the last two seasons on loan with Everton and is now set to face them for his current employer, going up against Jack Grealish.
The winger was booed in pre-season by his own supporters, and it will be intriguing to see what reception he gets from both sets of fans.
| Date | Result |
| 21 August 2021 | Leeds 2-2 Everton |
| 12 February 2022 | Everton 3-0 Leeds |
| 30 August 2022 | Leeds 1-1 Everton |
| 18 February 2023 | Everton 1-0 Leeds |
Elsewhere, Leeds are closing in on a deal for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, although it may be too soon for him to play against his former club.
The Premier League match will be a must-watch for several reasons, and Leeds will eye a win at Elland Road on Monday Night Football.
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