Leeds United transfer news as mega sales will help FFP shackles at Elland Road
Leeds United will be able to continue their aggressive transfer approach and avoid FFP restrictions if they are able to sell a couple of their bigger stars including Illian Meslier, according to Leeds Live reporter Beren Cross.
The Yorkshire-based club made their first signing of the summer on July 19 as they welcomed Welsh defender Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea for £7m, but hope to carry on their business through the window as long as they can navigate financial fair play restrictions.
So far Daniel Farke’s side has managed to keep a number of their higher-profile players at Elland Road despite plenty of interest, however, the assumption is that the likes of Patrick Bamford, Meslier and Tyler Adams may have to be sold to fund further incomings.
Answering a fan’s question about what lies ahead in the window, Cross wrote: “Aggressive is a word I have heard used more than once behind the scenes at Elland Road. Paraag Marathe does not want to be shy about the club’s promotion push next season.
“They have the finances in place to be bullish, but EFL profit and sustainability rules will shackle how much the club can do without getting into hot water.
“Certainly selling one or two players for eight-figure fees would be immensely helpful in terms of releasing more money for acquisitions. You can guess which players are most likely to go for sums like that.
“Illan Meslier, Patrick Bamford, Crysencio Summerville, Jack Harrison, Tyler Adams, Luis Sinisterra and Wilfried Gnonto could all fetch decent fees if they ended up moving on.”
A means to an end
It is almost rather unusual that Leeds have managed to keep as many of these star names as they have so far, normally as a team is relegated there is an almighty fire-sale as funds are aimed to be generated, perhaps the delay in the 49ers takeover and appointment of Farke may have slowed down proceedings.
The advantage held by Leeds is that a number of their players will have remained valuable, despite relegation, because of their tendency to buy youthful players. The likes of Meslier and Gnonto especially had enough good moments in the Premier League to make clubs take a chance on bringing them in.
If the recruitment continues in the smart model of Ampadu, a couple of eight-figure sales could fund multiple very good Championship signings which in combination with a few bigger names would provide Farke with enough quality to make the Whites a competitive force next year.
But there is also the question of how light the new owners want to leave their squad, if for any reason they aren’t able to recruit how this wish after selling. Players like Gnonto who don’t have relegation causes could be the difference between missing the play-off or going up automatically.
In other Leeds United news, the 49ers have been immediately welcomed by financial fair play restrictions