Catch up on the latest Leeds United evening headlines as the squad return for pre-season testing and await the appointment of a new head coach
Here are the latest Leeds United headlines on Monday, July 3.
Young Leeds United trio linked with Radrizzani’s Sampdoria
Until the EFL rubber-stamps 49ers Enterprises takeover, Leeds United are still under the overall control of Andrea Radrizzani. The outgoing chairman has other matters on his mind though, not least his own takeover at Sampdoria, where he has already been able to appoint Italy legend Andrea Pirlo as the new head coach.
But if reports in Italy are to be believed, than there could be even more of a Leeds United influence in Genoa next season.
Italian outlet Il Secolo XIX (as per Club Doria in stories here and here ) claim that Samp are interested in signing young Leeds trio Mateo Joseph, Leo Hjelde and Diogo Monteiro.
The reports add that Joseph’s Spanish passport would mean he wouldn’t count as a on-EU citizen and that Leeds would consider a loan move, potentially with an option to buy. Monteiro is expected to be loaned out this season, the report adds before claiming that Leeds could be up for selling Norway U21s international Hjelde.
Leeds United set pre-season scene as Championship preparations step up
Leeds United have set the scene as they prepare to get their pre-season campaign underway this morning. The Whites have less than five weeks to get themselves ready for their season opener against Cardiff City and the hard work begins today at Leeds Beckett’s Carnegie School of Sport.
As we have seen in seasons gone by, Leeds’ senior squad will undergo a series of medical tests and examinations today, with the club’s staff in place to welcome a chunk of the squad back to the action. Only those who have not been in international action will be expected back in West Yorkshire today, with the rest of the squad set to return next Monday following their extended breaks.
The Whites won’t be due to take the grass at Thorp Arch until Tuesday, despite still being without a manager, but their first day will be centred at the university. Leeds have taken to social media to provide fans with a glimpse of what’s in store for the players returning today with a short video.
Finance expert details Championship distortion benefitting Leeds United
Parachute payments have a distorting effect on the Championship according to a football finance expert – with Leeds United one of the beneficiaries next season. The difference between revenues in the Premier League and the EFL is huge, with TV revenues in the top flight estimated to be worth a minimum of £100m per season compared to less than £10m in the Championship.
That means it is bonanza time for clubs winning promotion to the Premier League, but those that are relegated must slash their budgets. The financial blow is softened somewhat by parachute payments which see teams receive money from the Premier League for three years following relegation, with a first-year payment of around £50m and – if they are not promoted at the first attempt – lower payments for years two and three.
And those parachute payments mean that sides such as Leeds coming into the Championship from the Premier League start with a massive advantage over those competing in the second tier without any such windfall. “There is this big drop off in the Championship in terms of revenue, while the regulations are different I’d hasten to add that, in terms of living within their means, the EFL is more successful than the Premier League,” said football finance expert Professor Rob Wilson of Sheffield Hallam University, in an interview with Saxo.
