In recent comments made on the Football Writers Podcast, Seb Stafford-Bloor discussed whether he believed Leeds United can make a mark in the Premier League next season – should they go on to achieve promotion this term.
Having narrowly missed out on promotion last season – losing to Derby County in the semi-final of the play-offs – it appears as if Leeds United could go one better this season, with Marcelo Bielsa’s side currently topping the Championship table – being four points ahead of second-placed West Brom and six above third-placed Brentford, with just six games left to play.
As such, speaking recently on the Football Writers Podcast, Seb Stafford-Bloor discussed whether or not he feels Leeds could go on to make an impact in the Premier League next season.
He said: “It depends what happens next. So with Leeds and specifically with Andrea Radrizzani [the Leeds owner], because of his friendship with Nasser Al-Khelaifi – PSG Chairman, there’s always been the suggestion that should Leeds reach this level [the Premier League], there’ll be some kind of takeover and to be honest, there’s enough ambiguity in some of the statements he’s issued about this in some of the interviews he’s given to give credence to that idea.
“So if you substitute QSI – Qatar Sports Investments – into the situation at Elland Road at some point in the future, of course, I mean that’s the potential tap, isn’t it? That turns your world green and gives you the unlimited supply of money.
“I was doing some research into Radrizzani not so long ago and he’s someone whose aims I don’t fully understand yet. He talks a good game and he speaks of wanting to get Leeds into the Premier League and he’s on the verge of doing that. Congratulations, if that goes ahead.
“What happens next? I’m not sure of. Whether there is a buyout or there’s a takeover, I don’t know. So without knowing for certain where this story is headed for it’s quite difficult to answer that question.”
TIF Thoughts…
As such, it would appear that the factor Stafford-Bloor considers the most important to Leeds having an impact on the Premier League is whether or not the club is taken over by QSI – which would likely, as he states, bring with it a serious cash injection.
However, this take does somewhat fail to mention Marcelo Bielsa’s influence on the side, as well as many admirable individual players’ performances within the Leeds side this season.
Do you want QSI to takeover Leeds United?
Yes
No
But, with just six games remaining of the season and the club currently clear at the top of the Championship – barring a catastrophic collapse in form – it seems like we will not have to wait long to witness first-hand how Leeds manage to do in next season’s top flight.