- Leeds face Norwich in their playoff semi-final second leg on Thursday night
- The Yorkshire club’s playoff success will have huge implications financially
- Arsenal are the real deal regardless of what happens in the title race – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast
Leeds United will have to raise close to £100million in player sales if they fail to win promotion to the Premier League, with Crysencio Summerville the most likely departure.
Sources close to top-flight clubs expect a fire sale at Elland Road should they remain in the Championship next season. Daniel Farke’s side entertain Norwich in their play-off semi-final on Thursday evening after a goalless first leg.
We have been told it would take significant sales approaching £100m to offset continued operating losses which, in the latest set of accounts, totalled £106m, reduced to £34m by the transfers of Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City and Raphinha to Barcelona.
American owners 49ers Enterprises inherited a challenging and potentially bleak financial picture when taking full control of the club from Andrea Radrizzani last summer.
Promotion back to the Premier League would ease – yet not entirely alleviate – financial concerns and the need to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Leeds must raise close to £100m in player sales if they fail to win Premier League promotion
Championship Player of the Season Crysencio Summerville is the most likely to leave Leeds
Summerville and Italian star Wilfried Gnonto (right) are among the club’s most valuable assets
Leeds head into their playoff semi-final second leg against Norwich with the score tied at 0-0
But defeat to Norwich, or in the play-off final at Wembley on May 26, would leave Leeds in danger of breaching the EFL’s spending rules, if they do not sell players. Sources say up to 10 could go and would only be replaced by free transfers and loan signings.
Dutch forward Summerville, goalkeeper Illan Meslier, winger Willy Gnonto, striker Georginio Rutter and teenage midfielder Archie Gray represent the squad’s most valuable assets, while the club will look to move on former England striker Patrick Bamford.
Summerville, 22, has been watched by Chelsea, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Liverpool in recent months, and he would command a fee in excess of £30m. He has scored 20 times from 47 appearances and was named the Championship Player of the Season last month.
