Leeds United transfer news: Market value clauses emerge as Willy Gnonto and Tyler Adams named among £100m fire sale five
Not only have Leeds United inserted clauses in players’ contracts that will reduce wages by at least half in the event of relegation, their transfer release clauses are set at “market value” to protect the club from losing stars on the cheap, The Telegraph reports.
With Sam Allardyce’s men going into the final two games of the season inside the relegation zone a return to the Championship is still very much a concern, but the overall impact of the drop is deemed not to be ruinous to the Whites as safety nets have been put in place.
While falling into the second tier shouldn’t see the big names leave for peanuts they will likely still have to depart, and five stars have been named as likely to go in event of a fire sale, with Willy Gnonto, Tyler Adams, Patrick Bamford, Illan Meslier and Brenden Aaronson tipped to exit.
In a Telegraph run-down of how bad relegation might hit the remaining candidates it is reported: “Every player at the club will have their salary reduced by 50% to 60% should they return to the Championship, with the aim to protect the club from paying Premier League salaries in the second tier.
“They also have inserted buyout clauses at market value so they do not lose players on the cheap.”
As to who would depart, the five names of Meslier, Bamford, Gnonto, Adams and Aaronson are given as a likely fire sale quintet to bring in £100million and cushion the blow.
Contingencies
Losing key players is an occupational hazard for a side that are relegated from the top tier, and Leeds United supporters, particularly ones that can remember the last time, are well aware of that.
But it appears that one small mercy amid the chaos this season is that plans have been put in place to avoid seeing the modern equivalents of Mark Viduka and Alan Smith be picked off at bargain prices.
Given their form this season it is arguable whether the likes of Bamford and Meslier have retained their market prices from even a year ago, but Gnonto and Adams, signed for £3.8million [Daily Mail] and £20million [Guardian] have surely seen their prices increase.
Aaronson, a £24.7million arrival [Sky Sports] has had an indifferent campaign on the whole and would likely go for less than he came in for, but with amortisation could feasibly still avoid a loss.
After a battling point against Newcastle last weekend (13 May) there is still the chance that the Whites’ new-found fight is enough to avoid the drop either way.
West Ham’s and Tottenham’s attentions being elsewhere could open the door to a second late escape in the space of a year, but if not the club is at least somewhat guarded against a complete disaster.
In other Leeds United news, a “stunning development” is mooted if the Whites are to keep hold of an exit-bound talent.