With player sales reportedly needed, one player is an obvious candidate to be sold this summer.
| Sky Bet Championship play-off final details | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Home Dressing Room | Away Dressing Room | Venue | Kick-Off Time |
| 26/05/2024 | Leeds United | Southampton | Wembley Stadium | 15:00 |
Historically, the Championship play-off final has been dubbed ‘the richest game in football’ and for good reason. There are huge financial implications for the winners and losers come Sunday evening, with the victors getting to enjoy the riches of the top-flight, whilst the losers will remain in the Championship, with their parachute payments reduced.
Implications for Leeds United
Ahead of the play-off final, the implications have been made abundantly clear for Leeds United, with several reports claiming that the club will be forced to sell a number of players should they fail to seal a return to the top-flight.
Last month, for example, Football Insider claimed that Leeds could potentially be hit with a points deduction if they fail to pay back any of the £190 million that they owe in transfer fees on time, with £73.6 million of that sum due this summer.
Concerns over that led to ex-Everton CEO Keith Wyness declaring the club as ‘on the borderline’ via Football Insider: “I had a look at the accounts and, while there is some potential cash-flow issues, I think the San Francisco 49ers are certainly strong enough to be able to handle that.
“I would expect them to step in and make sure things are okay.
“There is about £190million due for transfers and players going forward, but I think they are going to be okay.
“It’s going to be crucial if they can get promoted, but I think Leeds could be okay even staying in the Championship for another season.
“They are on the borderline, but they are not in the intensive care yet.”
In more recent days, reports have suggested Leeds must raise up to £100 million in player sales if they fail to go up.
Wober a candidate to be sold
Given the above circumstances, and arguably regardless of division, one player that is surely a candidate to be sold permanently is Max Wober.
The 24-year-old joined Leeds United in January 2023 for a reported £10 million, but was loaned out to Borussia Mönchengladbach following their relegation from the Premier League.
Wober’s time in Germany is soon due to come to an end, but, Gladbach are not playing ball with regards to the fee Leeds are demanding.
According to BILD, Gladbach are only willing to pay £7.7 million, or €9 million for Wober, whilst Leeds are demanding £14.5 million, or €17 million.
Leeds must get their money back
Whilst Leeds want to make a profit on Wober, they should be content with at least making back what they signed him for in January last year, which as discussed above, was £10 million.
As such, they should be flexible with their €17 million demands, but not too much as it’s no secret that a fee of that enormity makes a testing summer ahead that little bit easier. For example, anything above €11.6 million would see them make their money back and a small profit on Wober, and given the challenging circumstances they face this summer, that should be the aim.
Even if Gladbach are not willing to reach that figure, there may be another side overseas or domestically that may.
With Wober not staying for the Championship campaign this season, the chances are, he won’t want to stick around again if the club remain in the second tier, and in that scenario, getting him off the books without making a loss, particularly when player sales are reportedly needed this summer, would make a lot of sense.
Ultimately, though, these are bridges to cross once Sunday is out of the way.
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