Good Morning. It's Tuesday 15th July, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Stach remains a priority signing Leeds United are reportedly stepping up their pursuit to bolster their midfield, with Hoffenheim star Anton Stach still a prime target. The German international appears to fit the desired profile to take a pivotal role in the heart of Daniel Farke’s midfield. Standing at an imposing 6ft 4 inches, Stach has garnered a reputation as one of the most effective ball-winners in the Bundesliga, earning considerable plaudits for his performances in recent seasons. His physicality and defensive prowess are seen as key assets that could significantly strengthen Leeds' engine room. While the 26-year-old has been on the Whites' radar for the past month, their intensified interest comes amidst growing competition from fellow English clubs like Burnley and Brentford, who have also entered the race for his signature. Despite this increased attention, sources close to Elland Road reaffirm that Stach remains a top priority for Leeds this summer, deemed instrumental to Daniel Farke’s strategic plans. The challenge for Leeds now lies in pulling out all the stops to land the highly-rated midfielder. Understandably, with a contract at Hoffenheim until the summer of 2027, Stach has remained tight-lipped on the ongoing transfer speculation. However, influential German publication Kicker has indicated that the midfielder would indeed be receptive to a move to the Premier League. please log in to view this image 49ers opting for cautious summer spending How much can the Whites truly afford to spend this summer? LeedsUnited.news have posted a thought provoking article, dissecting Leeds Utd's current financial situation. Whilst Leeds long-term sights are firmly fixed on Europe, the 49ers are building robust foundations to ensure both stability and (hopefully) survival. Adam Williams, LeedsUnited.News’ own Football Finance Expert, has offered a compelling breakdown of the club’s true spending power. Williams highlights that while the club's wage bill for the 2023-24 financial year sits at a substantial £84m, there’s a notable reduction in transfer amortisation, now down to around £60 million. This positive shift indicates that Leeds are gradually reshaping its financial commitments, leading to "fair bit of wriggle room" for summer spending. However, there’s a caveat. Leeds existing net transfer debt is considerable, prompting the 49ers, to prefer upfront payments for new signings rather than instalments. While sensible in the long term, how much will it limit the volume of transfer business, and the knock on effect of survival? Adding to the club's financial clout is a recent £120 million share issue aimed at supporting both squad enhancement and Elland Road redevelopment. Williams reassures that spending over £150 million should not trigger immediate profitability and sustainability rule (PSR) concerns, but he cautions against excessive risks tied to potential relegation. Leeds have the capacity to invest significantly, but a cautious, more strategic approach appears to be the favoured path. Whites fans know all too well, reaching the Premier League was difficult enough. Would it not be more prudent to tighten the purse strings once the club was in a more stable position? “With the 49ers having been in sole control for two seasons now, we’re getting to the point where the wage structure will be fashioned more in their image. That’s key here, as how much cash and PSR headroom they have available will depend on how much they have already committed to their existing squad,” “The wage bill was £84m in 2023-24, which is the last financial year for which we’ve got the data available. Transfer amortisation meanwhile was £60m. Amortisation is definitely going to have come down quite significantly, while the wage bill will also have tapered off as they re-based the squad with lower-value contracts. That means they will have a fair bit of wriggle room and free cash to spend this summer. “One thing to note, however, is that Leeds’ net transfer debt is already pretty high and the 49ers have said that they don’t want to pay for transfers on tick to the same extent that the club has previously, so I’d expect to see more of their business paid for upfront and a smaller proportion paid in instalments. “In terms of the total spend, that might make them spend slightly more modestly. However, the £120m share issue in May is a good sign here. It means there’s liquid cash available – it just depends how they want to allocate it. “PSR is a factor too. If they go and spend more than £150m, I don’t think that will cause any immediate PSR issues, but it’s about planning for the long term. If they’re relegated, any exorbitant spending is going to be an albatross around their necks. So it depends on what the 49ers’ appetite for risk is. “There’s also the issue of whether the £100m or £150m figures we see in the headlines are inclusive of add-ons, agent fees, and other costs. Often, these things aren’t as black-and-white as they’re presented. “That’s a long-winded way of saying we can’t say for certain, but in theory, there is no reason that Leeds can’t spend £150m or more; it depends on the level of risk that the 49ers want to take on. Instinctively, however, looking at the profile of the player they’re being linked with, I think they’ll play it more conservatively.” please log in to view this image Freebies to fill voids We've heard that Leeds United and the 49ers Enterprises may be forced to adopt a more prudent approach in the transfer market this summer, so it makes sense that they may be forced to bring in a couple of freebee's as squad players to fill voids! Two names that came to mind are Fulham’s Harrison Reed and former Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Both offer the Premier League pedigree and tactical flexibility that Daniel Farke could utilise to great effect. "The Ox," having recently returned to England following a challenging stint at Beşiktaş, represents a fascinating, low-risk gamble. While injuries have hampered his career, his quality is undeniable. On a short-term deal, he could provide invaluable cover across any midfield position, offering a creative spark and big-game experience that is often decisive in promotion battles. Similarly, Harrison Reed could be an astute acquisition. A tenacious and reliable midfielder (who can also play right-back), Reed has found his game time limited at Fulham and could be allowed to leave to free up wages. His engine, defensive diligence, and versatility would add steel and depth to the Leeds squad. please log in to view this image
Morning all - Stach a priority we’ve been talking about for a month and yesterday his club stated we have yet to make a firm offer. I’d hate to witness how long a non priority would take, FFS get it done, we were the only interested a month ago, all we’ve done is alert all our rivals. Freebies to fill the void - Journey men looking for a final pay day and will probably keep the physio busier than Bamford can.
Exactly Ristac if he's on our top.target list stop fizzing around. I know it ain't easy as saying simply sign. but, make the effort before someone else does. Sell the club to him first. Gag for him show him we really want him. We still puzzy foot about on transfers trying to.make a deal in our favor sometimes it doesn't work like that. Not saying do it on all players but on one's we really.want take that extra step he's quality.
Morning all. One thing is for sure, we need to be a hell of a lot stronger than last season before season kicks off. No point losing fiirst three or four games due to squad not being ready and then expecting to go on a winning streak to pull ourselves out out of relegation zone. Six points needed from those first four games. And sorry but the cheap approach will not work
