Leeds could be at risk of points deduction, ‘crazy’ situation emerges – Borson

Leeds United could find themselves in a worse position from a profit and sustainability (PSR) perspective if they manage to secure promotion back to the Premier League.

That is the view of finance expert Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider the Championship club will have to fork out a £20million bonus if they are promoted this season.

Leeds narrowly missed out on a return to the top flight last season after suffering defeat to Southampton in the play-off final.

The West Yorkshire club were believed to be close to their allowable losses limit for 2023-24 before they sold Archie Gray to Tottenham for £30million.

Daniel Farke’s side have also sold Crysencio Summerville to West Ham and Georginio Rutter to Brighton, with those deals raking in a further £65million.

Leeds have had a relatively slow start to the new season, having drawn their opening two games against Portsmouth and West Brom.

Leeds promotion success could contribute to spending breach

But as they go in pursuit of a return to the Premier League again, Borson suggested it isn’t unusual for promotion to contribute to a potential spending breach.

He told Football Insider: “They need promotion, but the flip side of that is you end up paying a £20million promotion bonus.

“That £20million promotion bonus doesn’t get taken off of PSR assessments and, as we found with Nottingham Forest, it’s not unusual for that to contribute to a breach.

“I think they will be fine for this year, but they do have this perverse situation where they could be in a worse position from a PSR perspective if they get promotion, which is just crazy.

“The rules really should not work like that, but that is the way they appear to work.”