Leeds United: £6.7bn news means 49ers must make sure promotion is won
49ers Enterprises must ensure Leeds United are promoted this season with further investment after the Premier League agreed a £6.7billion TV rights deal.
The BBC reported on 4 December that the deal will cover four years from the 2025/26 season, with 270 games set to be broadcast live on Sky Sports and TNT Sport.
The Premier League claimed the deal would “provide financial certainty” for clubs, and those in England’s top tier look set to benefit from the £1.7billion rise in money from the previous £5billion deal.
For the 49ers and Leeds, that increase in income and money would allow the club to make further progress on and off the pitch, and the owners should now be doing all they can in terms of investment to see the Yorkshire club promoted this season.
With the January transfer window rapidly approaching, the chance will be there to plug any gaps in the squad, strengthen areas that need building, and improve the level of talent in the team to provide Daniel Farke with the best possible shot at promotion.
The financial incentive to earn promotion was already there given the high wage bill and the issue which always arises for relegated clubs, which leaves Premier League spending with clubs on Championship incomes.
However, given the new deal, that desire to earn promotion which will prove a game-changer for the club financially will be ever stronger behind the scenes at Elland Road.
A possible expansion of Elland Road has been mooted after Phil Hay shared the club had been in talks with a major architectural firm [The Athletic, 29 November], and promotion could see that accelerated due to the money that goes towards stadium renovations.
Hay also shared [The Athletic, 17 October] that the new owners are looking to improve what is referred to as “Championship-level” infrastructure at Leeds, and promotion to the Premier League will provide them with the income they need for a behind-the-scenes overhaul.
With the new television deal in place, it may be more of an incentive than ever for the 49ers to ensure Leeds are promoted from the Championship as soon as possible.
In other Leeds United news, Summerville avoided a possible suspension at the weekend.