da brdice： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
da bwin： In an interview with The Times, Andrea Radrizzani has delivered a potentially worrying statement about the club’s finances, claiming it’s not sustainable to maintain their salary at the level it’s at.
What’s he said?
Angus Kinnear has spoken in the past about the massive rise in the wage budget since Radrizzani walked through the door at Elland Road and in recent times that looks as though it’s caught up with them.
Profit and sustainability was a running theme throughout Leeds’ summer as the club had to balance the books.
It was a matter that played some part in Pontus Jansson leaving this summer.
Yet, despite claiming £10m for Jack Clarke and receiving fees for both Jansson and Kemar Roofe, things still don’t look overly positive.
Radrizzani told The Times:
“It’s financially not sustainable to keep this level of salary which is now over £30m, probably £33m with Marcelo and closer to £40m with the coaches.”
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Worrying signs
Leeds struggled to bring players through the door on a permanent basis in the summer and instead opted for a policy that saw six players arrive on loan.
Illan Meslier, Helder Costa and Jack Harrison can all become permanent additions in the future, something that would obviously be helped by returning to the Premier League.
The potential investment of QSI would also go a colossal way to ironing things out and making their level of salary sustainable.
However, that wouldn’t be particularly feasible until next season.
That means, judging by Radrizzani’s comments, that Leeds are under huge pressure to achieve promotion this season. It also suggests any permanent signings in January will likely have to be forgotten about.
That’s unless more players leave, which given their squad depth isn’t a realistic aim. They’ve used 19 players in the Championship this term, the fewest of anyone in the division while they’re also struggling in front of goal.
From the highest number of shots taken by teams in the second tier, they only sit joint-tenth for goals scored.
Bringing in a goalscorer might well be at the height of their priorities, therefore, but where they can get the finances from to fund that looks to be an issue.
Radrizzani’s comments should certainly come as a concern going into the next window.