Leeds United's 49ers transfer spending power facing FFP problem not lacking ambition — Leeds Live 20/1/24

Daniel Farke says financial rules are limiting what Leeds United can spend in the January transfer window rather than a lack of ambition from the top of the club

ByBeren Cross

Financial rules and not a lack of ambition or spending power are behind Leeds United’s inability to go big in the January transfer window. Daniel Farke referenced EFL’s regulatory shackles for the first time on Friday as he expanded on the problems with signing the best players in this mid-season market.

The Whites are expected to pursue loan deals between now and 11pm on February 1, when the window closes. There are three slots available to Farke and United’s transfer committee for temporary additions.

Whether they fill them or not remains to be seen. Farke has reiterated he is happy to go until the end of the season with his squad as it is, if his desired transfer targets do not materialise because he will not sanction moves for the sake of it.

“I like to be really open and transparent in the summer, to speak about what we need to sign,” he said. “January's always a bit complicated because the players who are currently playing, they're more or less not available, or you have to spend crazy money and we don't have the chance to do this.

“[That’s] not because we're not ambitious, but also due to the financial rules we have to accept. For that, it's always a bit tricky.”

49ers Enterprises took full control of Leeds in the summer after buying out Andrea Radrizzani. The investment arm of San Francisco 49ers is comprised of multiple, high-net-worth investors who will surpass the spending power of previous owners.

However, financial fair play laws, which are currently in the Premier League news again, heavily shackle what recently relegated outfits can do in the Championship. Five of the club’s nine summer arrivals, Ethan Ampadu, Karl Darlow, Joel Piroe, Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara, required a permanent transfer fee.

Beyond the financial limits imposed on the Whites, Farke underlined the problem with many of the players who are available at the right cost are rusty and out of shape with no time to build their fitness. Charlie Cresswell is one player lacking minutes who is expected to have his situation resolved in the next fortnight too.

“To sign a player in January without having a pre-season, without having friendlies, for example, and he has not played six months, then it's also sometimes difficult [to say] this player improves us,” said Farke. “The January market is always tricky for that.

“I'm always careful [not] to speak too much about ‘we need a player on this and that position.’ The group, before this window, was not too big and we have given two defensive-minded players away with Luke Ayling, with Djed Spence.

“We have also the topic with Charlie Cresswell, which will be decided within the next two weeks. So overall, it's definitely the case we are not too big on numbers in our defensive positions and we are fully aware of this, but we will just speak about business once business is done.”