🎧Transfers for an 'extra level' - chairman
- Published
Leeds United expect to target additional quality in the summer transfer market, with chairman Paraag Marathe confident the squad is now strong enough that individuals with an "extra level" now need to be added.
Marathe has given a detailed interview to BBC Radio Leeds and in it, he explained securing captain Ethan Ampadu on a long-term deal was a "signal to the market" that the club are moving with ambition.
Last summer, the Whites recruited several players - with an emphasis on physicality - in a bit to stay in the Premier League.
Now, Marathe says the "bar is higher" for signings.
He told BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope: "This coming season and window is about improving the squad even more, so it requires an extra level to be able to come into the squad and earn minutes right away. So we will be pursuing players that have that extra level to them and that's our plan.
"We are going to be very strategic about it. We know we will improve the squad. There'll be a number of ins and probably a handful of outs as well.
"We have such a good squad. You hate to have any outs at all. The reality is there are only a certain number of minutes in any playing squad. For any club you have to have some healthy amount of churn. It's always uncomfortable.
"There will be hopefully some differentiated players, maybe a few more creative players to help us. But the bar is high and we have to chase that level."
Marathe praised Leeds' recruitment team for their work last season, stating some of the staff were doubted in the transfer market given a perceived lack of experience.
He expects changes in financial rules - as the Premier League moves to a Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) instead of the Profit and Sustainability (PSR) - to briefly hinder the Whites.
SCR is in force for the 2026-27 season. The new framework limits Premier League clubs' on-pitch spending to 85% of their football-related revenue and net profit/loss from player sales., external
"In the short term PSR gave more flexibility than SCR does," Marathe explained.
"In two or three years time we will be in a better advantageous position than PSR. In the short-term it's maybe a bit more restrictive but we are still able to do what we need to do."
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