49ers Enterprises probably didn’t expect to be collecting the keys to a Championship club this summer when they voiced their initial takeover intentions. The American investment group are said to have agreed a deal to buy Leeds United from Andrea Radrizzani as a Premier League outfit only for things to be rapidly readjusted upon the club’s relegation.
Nevertheless, the news filtered through on Friday evening that a deal had been struck with an Athletic report claiming the deal valued Leeds at around £170m, which is around £300m less than what it would have been in the top flight. That means Leeds, as a club, can now focus their energy on putting the necessary measures in place this summer in order to get ready for the start of the new season.
A head coach is the priority, but recruitment isn’t far behind and major changes are expected when it comes to playing personnel after dropping out the top tier. Promotion is the aim, of course, but some key men won’t be sticking around for the ride.
Rodrigo, Jack Harrison, Tyler Adams, Junior Firpo, Marc Roca, Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville are amongst those who have already been linked away and with players having relegation release clauses stitched into their contracts, the club won’t be able to stand in their way should approaches be made. As such, until a firm number of departures emerges, there is uncertainty regarding how many new signings Leeds will need to secure over the summer.
What is certain, though, is that Leeds need to bolster the size of their first-team squad going into a 46-game season, with a minimum of two cup games and the potential of a play-off campaign to navigate, too. The Championship can be a slog at the best of times and 49ers Enterprises must make sure the club are not approaching it underequipped and underprepared.
Strength in depth has been an issue at Elland Road for some time, in truth. Marcelo Bielsa preferred to work with a smaller squad and Leeds built their senior group accordingly.
When injuries struck they struggled to prevent their standard from falling, though, and in their second Premier League season that was seen as one of their major downfalls. Efforts were made to bolster numbers last summer and seven first-teamers were recruited, but departures still made for an imbalanced squad.
Both Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce made reference to such shortcomings towards the end of the campaign, with the latter having some damning words to say after the club’s loss to West Ham United on the penultimate day of the season. It would have been something to address this summer regardless of division, then, but especially now the club find themselves dropping into the second tier.
The gruelling nature of the league, with Saturday games being regularly followed by midweek outings, brings a need for regular rotation and unfortunately injuries are an inevitability, too. Of course, the club’s promising youngsters will be expected to step in and fill any gaps.
Charlie Cresswell, for example, looks set to play an important role next season, while Cody Drameh, Leo Hjelde, Mateo Joseph, Darko Gyabi and Sonny Perkins are all candidates to breakthrough into the senior picture. But, Leeds will need more established, experienced performers to call upon as well, quite possibly with knowledge of the Championship and the physical and mental challenges it brings.
The biggest decision 49ers Enterprises will make in the first few months of ownership will be the appointment of the head coach. However, they must give him enough tools to succeed in the role and that means bolstering the strength in depth he has to call upon.
