Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has admitted that the club could face a “difficult” summer transfer window after missing out on promotion to the Premier League.
It is believed Leeds made a loss of around £4.3million during the 2017/18 season, and the Whites are anticipating a greater loss for this campaign, after missing out on promotion with a defeat in the Championship play-off semi-finals to Derby County, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Radrizzani is thought to be continuing talks with Marcelo Bielsa over the Argentine’s future, but Leeds’ chairman, whose opening two transfer windows of his ownership relied on financial support from selling the likes of Chris Wood and Rolando Vieira, has now suggested that the Whites could have to use their academy next season ahead of a potentially difficult summer transfer window.
“We’ll have to run a difficult summer in terms of the transfer market but we have a great academy,” Radrizzani said as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
OPINION
Bielsa managed to lead his Leeds side to a challenge for automatic promotion this season, with the Whites just missing out on automatic promotion following a loss of form towards the end of the campaign, despite having to rely mainly on loan players and using the club’s academy to strengthen his squad. It now appears that the Argentine could have perform a similar job next term, if he decides to remain at Elland Road, with Radrizzani’s comments hinting a financially challenging summer transfer window. That will make it even more essential that Bielsa does remain in charge at Leeds, with the Argentine already developing the likes of Jamie Shackleton and Jack Clarke this season into first team players at Elland Road. The 63-year-old will also beware of other talented players within Leeds’ academy who he might be able to call on regularly next term, such as striker Ryan Edmondson, so it is important he stays if Leeds are going to have to once again rely on youth players. Bielsa’s ability to use the loan market effectively will also crucial, with the Argentine needing to find more players like Jack Harrison who contributed a lot to Leeds’ season.