Phil Hay claims on The Athletic website that Leeds United will not pay a penny of the £20million fee in place for Tyler Adams until next year – as the club carefully used their limited cash to overhaul Jesse Marsch’s playing squad.
Leeds ended the window by completing a ninth summer arrival, in the shape of Willy Gnonto from FC Zurich. It comes after Brenden Aaronson, Luis Sinisterra, Marc Roca, Adams and Rasmus Kristensen joined the first team playing squad.
The club also added Darko Gyabi and Sonny Perkins to the Under-21 side. Joel Robles comes in on a free to provide competition to Illan Meslier and Kristoffer Klaesson. Leeds have spent the best part of £100million in total on transfers.
That is offset by bringing in initial payments of a similar total for Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips. Other deals for the likes of Cody Gakpo or Charles De Ketelaere would have been done by cash injection from the club’s shareholders.
But it appears Leeds have been clever, even in the deals they have done for their incoming players. Indeed, Hay reports that the club will not pay a penny of the £20million fee they have agreed to sign Adams for from Leipzig, until 2023.
Hay: Leeds will not pay a penny of Adams fee until next year
To be able to agree that kind of deal with Leipzig – a club Leeds have had trouble with, is impressive work. Victor Orta deserves praise for being able to backdate the fee for Adams, certainly, with the cloud of Jean-Kevin Augustin looming.
Adams has been superb for Leeds since joining the club. The USA international has formed a superb relationship with Marc Roca in midfield. The duo have played so well, that it has helped Leeds fans forget about losing Kalvin Phillips.
Orta has done well given the club’s financial state meant it was a case of sell one, buy one. Bringing in big initial fees allowed Leeds to reshape the squad in the way Marsch wanted to do so. They look well-set for the 2022-23 season.
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