Paraag Marathe has shared whether Leeds United will have any cash to spend on player signings this summer.
The Whites look set for a difficult transfer window ahead having been beaten 1-0 by Southampton in the play-off final on Sunday, consigning them to another season of Championship football.
Had Leeds gone up, much of the focus would’ve been on who could potentially be coming into the football club, but as it is, it is currently on who might leave.
BBC journalist Rory Smith has touted Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto, Archie Gray and Georginio Rutter as four who might leave, and it goes without saying they would need to be replaced.
Leeds will need to raise some funds before the end of the current financial year on June 30, with £73 million of the £190 million in unpaid transfer instalments needing to be paid off.
Luis Sinisterra and Tyler Adams have already been sold within the current period to help offset that, meaning the situation isn’t quite as desperate as some may make it seem.
Marathe shares whether Leeds have cash for signings
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire yesterday moved to ease Leeds fans’ concerns regarding the club’s financial position and in particular PSR.
Given the standard of the players who could leave this summer, including Championship POTS Summerville, Leeds will be in desperate need of some additions if they are to push for promotion again.
49ers Enterprises showed their commitment to backing Daniel Farke in the transfer market last summer with big money additions such as Joel Piroe and Ethan Ampadu.
And in an interview with the Athletic, Marathe has moved quickly to assure fans they have the necessary investment behind-the-scenes to do so again, by confirming there will be cash available to spend on signings.
He said: “We’re well capitalised from an investment standpoint. We have the funds to do what we need to do. The reality of being in the Championship is that PnS plays a role. There will naturally need to be some trade-offs.
“But we have a really good team and it’s not just outs. It’s ins as well, looking at scouting opportunities for us. We’ll have to make some trade-offs because of PnS, but we have the investment commitment to do what we need to do.”
Asked if there would be meaningful money available for fresh arrivals ahead of next season, Marathe responded: “That’s right.”
Leeds in good hands with Marathe to go again next season
Rightfully, there are concerns about Leeds’ situation heading into a second season in the Championship, given the financial disparity between the Premier League and EFL.
In the first year after relegation, Leeds received 55 per cent of what they would be given within the Premier League’s TV money deal in parachute payments. However, that is then cut to 45 per cent in the second year.
That will obviously lead to a loss of revenue but thankfully, it would appear with the owners currently in charge Leeds do not have to worry too much.
Marathe is saying all the right things and the fact he has done such an in-depth interview for Leeds fans so soon after the play-off defeat shows they are already cracking on behind-the-scenes.
Unlike previous owner Andrea Radrizzani, Marathe is not one who likes to be front and centre publicly, but clearly he knows when the right time is to reassure fans.