Recent Southampton sales figures put Leeds United business to shame after Newcastle transfer news
Leeds United have seen something of an exodus at Elland Road with very little money coming the other way, while recent business at Southampton has put the Yorkshire club to shame, with Tino Livramento set to join Newcastle for £40million, according to The Athletic.
As always, clubs that are relegated from the Premier League are having their squads picked apart from clubs both in the top division and from abroad. Leeds have felt the full force of this, with nine first-team players already having left the club, with more still expected.
However, for all the exits Leeds have seen, the club have only received around £4.2million in incoming transfer and loan fees. This is despite a combined £103.9million having been forked out to bring the departed players to Elland Road in the first place [Transfermarkt].
Leeds’ largest incoming transfer fee this summer was the £3million from Rodrigo’s move to Qatari club Al-Rayyan, despite having seen the likes of Robin Koch, Marc Roca, Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen and Max Wober depart from Elland Road.
Meanwhile, at Southampton, the club are making sure they make every penny from their sales so far this summer.
Leeds’ biggest problem this summer has been the relegation release clauses, largely loan clauses, inserted into seemingly every player’s contract by previous ownership and management.
Southampton, meanwhile, don’t have this issue. They are able to demand high prices for their star players, so if they don’t receive the money they want, the players will stay.
Another example of this is James Ward-Prowse. West Ham have supposedly had multiple bids, one of £20million [Sky Sports, 28 July] and one of £30million, rejected by the Saints, as they are demanding £40million [talkSPORT, 2 August], the same fee as Livramento, for his services.
A third Southampton player, Romeo Lavia, is expected to leave the club for a big fee this summer, after the club turned down multiple bids for his services from Liverpool [The Athletic, 1 August].
Southampton are able to set high prices on their most highly-coveted players, which in turn will allow them to spend big in the transfer market. Leeds are being restricted by financial fair play, and the lack of incoming funds from transfer fees will do nothing to help that.
The Whites have been embarrassed, so far.
In other Leeds United news, a Saudi Arabian club have tabled a new deal for a Leeds defender.