Report: The 49ers have already agreed to pay for one transfer at Leeds United

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Rumours regarding a takeover of Leeds United by the San Francisco 49ers are starting to heat up again, and, as ever, The Athletic have done a deep dive into how the land lies in this situation.

A lot of this is stuff we may have heard before. A full takeover by the American group is expected by 2024, and the terms of the deal hinge on Leeds’ Premier League status come the end of the season.

However, there were a few interesting tidbits in this article, and one surrounds the signing of Georginio Rutter this month.

The 20-year-old striker is Leeds’ newest signing, and at £36m, he’s the most expensive player acquisition in the club’s history.

Andrea Radrizzani hasn’t been looking to spend massively over the past 18 months or so, so this move did come as a bit of a shock in the middle of the January transfer window.

However, according to The Athletic, it isn’t actually Radrizzani who is footing the bill here.

Their report states that Leeds were initially looking for an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy Rutter in the summer, but the 49ers were willing to back a permanent transfer in January and take on all liabilities going forwards.

As minority shareholders, the 49ers don’t have to make moves like this, but it’s clear that the American group are incredibly committed to Leeds and seemingly keen to keep them in the Premier League ahead of a full takeover at some point.

This is just good business sense. The 49ers have an option to buy Leeds at what is, in all honesty, a bargain price for a Premier League club of this stature, but that value is only there if Leeds are in the Premier League.

How do you keep a team at this level? You sign talented players, and while backing this transfer looks like an act of generosity, it may be more about protecting their asset and their future investment.

Don’t be surprised if this is the first of many signings backed by the 49ers’ cash as they look to become Leeds’ principal owners at some point in the next 12 months.