Latest news with #EllandRoad
BBC News
12 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Expectations, balancing books and little room for error
As I walking into the office a smiling Leeds United supporter shouted "Any transfer news Popey?" And so it window is ajar, well until 7pm on 10 June at least, when it slams shut before flying open again on 16 June until whatever alternative onomatopoeia can be found to describe the sound of it being forcibly closed again on 1 September at 19:00 that time Leeds will have been linked with a host of players which would have the pen running out on Santa's Christmas wish list. It's classic economics: The Problem of Scarcity - Unlimited Wants and Finite will strengthen the squad to survive and then hopefully thrive in the Premier League. Fans have felt emboldened by reports that the Elland Road board are raising £120m from investors by a new share issue. Their hopes that all of that and more will be spent on players needs to be tempered though because there is a stadium redevelopment to be funded simultaneously.A further dash of realism was added by renowned football finance expert Kieran Maguire who told the BBC that Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) will require United "to box clever in terms of recruitment" and that "spending £100m is just about feasible." Remember also that last year's revenue from player trading has to be be balanced against the £142m still owed for previous transfers. Goalkeeper is a key area it seems. Illan Meslier remains under contract for another year even if his credit with much of the fanbase has expired. Deposed by Karl Darlow for the run-in last season, it could be time for Meslier, 25, to move on. Chelsea's Djorde Petrovic is one name that is circulating with Blues boss Enzo Maresca keen on taking Meslier's compatriot Mike Maignan from AC Milan, which could precipitate an exit for the Serbia international from Stamford Bridge. But the Serie A outfit and Leeds' Premier League rivals AFC Bournemouth are also understood to be interested in Petrovic, who spent last season on loan at French League 1 side Strasbourg. You can make a case that Leeds need signings in virtually every position and to help improve leverage in the market there may be an opportunity to raise funds - bar the obvious sale of an established first teamer - by moving on youth players who have low amortised values, because little or no transfer fee was paid for them initially. Whatever price they are then sold for can be counted as almost 'pure profit' in the accounts (as was the case for Archie Gray's £40m sale to Spurs for example.)In that category fall several candidates such as Mateo Joseph, who the club rejected a £10m offer for from La Liga's Real Betis in January. He has been linked with Strasbourg. Joseph, 21, began last season as Leeds' main striker and although he performed well for Spain's under 21s he did not make the progress envisaged over the entire campaign. Returning from loan spells are Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood and Darko Gyabi, who all remain under contract and therefore have some value. Their futures may lie elsewhere, but, it is difficult to believe the combined fees fetched for them would help to significantly add to United's spending power and counteract the £61m loss the club is permitted to make under PSR this year as it Jack Harrison in particular is interesting. Having had two seasons on loan at Everton he now has 170 Premier League appearances under his belt. Harrison, 28, has not rediscovered his peak seen under Marcelo Bielsa, and, will require a tough skin to convince those that believe he should not see out the remaining three years of his deal at Elland Road after leaving the club post relegation in 2023. But he's a ready made winger, already on the books and is naturally left-footed in a position now vacated by Manor Solomon's return to Spurs. So all eyes turn to managing director Robbie Evans, sporting director Adam Underwood and manager Daniel Farke as to how a competitive squad is created in time for mid August. The English philosopher and logician Carveth Read is credited with the quote "it is better to be vaguely right than precisely wrong." When it comes to the less than exact science of recruitment this summer United chairman Paraag Marathe is taking the sentiment further: "You've got to nail your transfers," he told us after sealing the Championship title. The margin for error by the management team is slim but the weight of expectation, as always, will be enough to break the scales!Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Leeds stars race Red Bull F1 car at Elland Road after challenging driver to contest amid Premier League return
Three Leeds United players raced a Red Bull Formula One car after challenging the driver to a battle at Elland Road. The club are still riding the credit of a wave after securing promotion back to the Premier League after two years away, winning the Championship on goal difference ahead of Burnley. Daniel Farke 's side reached 100 points to secure a return to the top flight, and their celebrations continued in rather bizarre fashion - with three of the club's players racing one of the fastest cars on the planet. Willy Gnonto, Largie Ramazani and Isaac Schmidt raced the car, driven by Formula Two driver Arvid Lindblad in a drag race from one penalty box to another. After a slow start from the car as it struggled to pick up grip, it eventually prevailed in a race that included the vehicle turning 180 degrees and winning by around 30 yards. It proved, if there was any doubt, that a racing car is indeed faster than some of the quickest players, but provided some light entertainment from the club and its minority owners. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Red Bull UK (@redbulluk) Three Leeds United players raced a Red Bull Formula One car on the Elland Road turf Commenting on the race, Leeds' Ramazani said: 'This was a great experience, I wish we could do this every day with Red Bull. The only thing better would be getting in the car. 'I love Formula One. I went to the Monaco Grand Prix last week, which was a bucket list moment for me. I used to play Formula One games on the console when I was younger, so it was surreal to be next to a real car and race against it. 'Before the race I was scared, but I was confident too. I think we did great, but in the end the car was just too quick. 'I think one of the players involved in this idea was Dan James. Unfortunately, he's been injured, but I'd back my team-mate over that car any day. DJ would smoke this car.' Lindblad said: 'Ahead of the race I was a bit nervous. I'd never driven on grass and had no idea how it would go – only Red Bull would make something like this happen. 'The car has a ton of horsepower and there is not much grip on grass, so I wasn't sure if I could go full throttle and turn the car properly. It was great fun to challenge my skills and compete against footballers rather than other drivers.'
The Sun
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Premier League side risk ruining pitch as stars race RED BULL F1 CAR in their stadium
LEEDS have only just booked their return to the Premier League. But they have already risked ruining their pitch... as players raced against a Formula One car at Elland Road. 4 4 Leeds are sponsored by Red Bull, whose sporting ventures also include the F1 team. And in an unlikely collaboration, club chiefs allowed the RB7 motor on the playing surface to compete in a drag race against three of Leeds' fastest stars. The idea came about at last year's British Grand Prix at Silverstone - with the players thinking they had a chance of beating the mega engine with a few obstacles. So Willy Gnonto, Largie Ramazani and Isaac Schmidt took on F2 driver Arvid Lindblad in the unique challenge. The footballers and racing car started on the edge of the penalty box and had to go around mannequins on the 18-yard line at the other end of the pitch and come back to the starting point to finish. Lindblad suffered a nightmare start as he struggled to get the wheels going on the grass. The four involved were pretty much dead level approaching the mannequins. And the car's turning circle meant the footballers regained their lead going into the second half of the race. But as they began to tire - or tyre - the car closed the gap and eventually roared past to win by about 30 yards. F1 fan Largie Ramazani said of the publicity stunt: 'This was a great experience, the only thing better would be getting in the car. Inside Leeds stars' wild title celebrations as Bamford and Ampadu 'leave Burnley fanbase in meltdown' with karaoke song 'Before the race I was scared, but I was confident too. I think we did great, but in the end the car was just too quick. "Dan James was involved in the idea but unfortunately he's been injured. "But I'd back my team-mate over that car any day - DJ would smoke this car." Driver Lindblad added: "Ahead of the race I was a bit nervous. "I'd never driven on grass and had no idea how it would go. "The car has a ton of horsepower and there is not much grip on grass, so I wasn't sure if I could go full throttle and turn the car properly." The spectacle also featured a slalom 'dribbling' challenge - and it was no wonder the car left tyre marks across the pitch. No doubt the groundstaff were not best pleased... although the pitch will likely be ripped up and replaced for the Premier League campaign after winning the 2024-25 Championship under Daniel Farke. 4 4
BBC News
a day ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Leeds can't win every race...
Leeds United may have won the Championship and secured a place in the Premier League but it turns out there's at least one race their players couldn't come out on top of the club's fastest players - Willy Gnonto, Largie Ramazani and Isaac Schmidt - took on the challenge of sprinting against a Red Bull Racing Formula 1 car, steered by F2 driver Arvid flying footballers initially looked like they may have too much in the tank for the machine in a race which went from penalty box to penalty box and back on the Elland Road car easily won the day, taking control as all parties raced back to their starting penalty said: "The only thing better would be getting in the car. I love F1. I went to the Monaco Grand Prix last week, which was a bucket list moment for me. I used to play F1 games on the console when I was younger, so it was surreal to be next to a real car and race against it."In May of 2024, Red Bull secured a minority ownership stake in Leeds United, and took over as their front-of-shirt sponsor.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Premier League opponents
Ahead of the Premier League fixture release day on June 18th 2025, we're taking a look at our upcoming opponents for next season, having returned to the top-flight. Next up on the list, we take a look at Arsenal. Advertisement Stadium: Emirates Stadium Capacity: 60,704 Distance from Elland Road: 193 miles Founded: 1886 A memorable meeting: Time in Premier League: 33 years The Gunners have been in the Premier League since its inception in the 1992/93 season, beginning as one of the founder members. They've been crowned champions of the division on three occasions, but not since the 2003/04 season. Last season: Mikel Arteta's side have finished second in the league table three times on the bounce. A points total of 74 last season was the lowest of the last three years, with 20 wins, 14 draws, and just the four losses throughout the year. The strongest defence in the league saw them concede just 34 times, netting 69 at the other end. One to watch:
