Leeds United have signed seven new players this summer. There are some who complain the number is not enough and that the club need more new faces before the Everton game.
Daniel Farke agrees, and shared his frustrations after the Villarreal game. Leeds are concerned after their injury list continues to pile up. The club missed up to five first team stars in their last pre season game.
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Leeds have done very smart recruitment so far, brining in quality players from across Europe at very decent fees. Some argue that the club’s unwillingness to spend more money has cost them this summer.
QUIZ: Can you name the team Leeds United signed these players from?
Leeds United PSR possibilities for next season
Daniel Farke
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Leeds have barely scratched the £100million budget reported earlier this summer. The club have focused on players that can contribute this season, and a few seasons after. Finance expert Adam Williams believes PSR is limiting the club this summer.
“It’s not an uncommon pattern of spending to see a team which has been promoted without parachute payments to spend significantly more than others who have come up with them, but who have had the luxury of parachute payments – i.e., Sunderland and Leeds,” Williams said.” he told Leeds United News.
“We don’t have the figures for 2024-25 yet, but Leeds’ wage bill was £84 million in 2023-24, the first year after relegation. That will have come down a bit in their second season in the Championship, but it is still going to be significantly higher than Sunderland’s, which was £31m in 2023-24. And in terms of player transfer amortisation, Sunderland’s was £4 million, while Leeds’ was £59 million. Again, that gap will have narrowed, but it’s still a big difference.
How PSR affects Leeds’ squad building compared to Burnley and Sunderland
Sunderland have already hit and passed the £100million mark, and seem to be continuing their spending spree. Burnley on the other hand are the lowest spenders among the newly promoted sides. Adam Williams adds how PSR is affecting squad building for these clubs:
“What that tells you is that Leeds, on paper, have a squad which is closer to being Premier League-ready than Sunderland. So you’d expect them to spend less on a net basis ahead of their return to the top flight.
“Leeds are also more limited by PSR. Their loss limit for the three-year period up until the end of the coming season is around £60 million.
“They lost £61 million in 2023-24 alone. They sold well in 2024-25, so they will still have some margin for error, and I don’t think PSR is going to weigh too heavily on them, but they certainly don’t have the same breathing space as Sunderland, who lost just £4m in the last financial year. That’s down to what Leeds have spent in the past.
Have the club done enough business to survive?
Leeds have had the more interesting transfer window among the newly promoted clubs. But the players they have added are good quality, fans will have to see how that translates on the pitch during this season.
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