'We spent everything we could' - Leeds managing director on window
- Published
Leeds United managing director Robbie Evans says the club "spent everything they could" during the summer transfer window as they strive to stay in line with Profit and Sustainability regulations (PSR).
After winning the Championship last season, chairman Paraag Marathe promised they would spend every available pound to strengthen the squad.
Given the Whites acquired 10 players for a total cost of more than £100m, Evans was emphatic in his assessment of Marathe's pledge.
"This summer, we spent everything we could," he told gathered reporters after requesting not to do a broadcast interview. "Unequivocally, we are maxing PSR out this season.
"If we had gone on to other targets [on deadline day], or on to higher-priced players back in July, the consequences would have been seen in the current roster - the players in August would not have come in, or more key players from last season would have had to go.
"There were only a handful of players that were worth even considering making those kinds of sales. And when those top players didn't materialise, we held on to our key players instead."
Evans was pleased Leeds did not have to cash in on stars from the promotion campaign - such as Ao Tanaka, Pascal Struijk and Joel Piroe - explaining that they looked to work the market differently.
"Unsurprisingly, the players that have the highest PSR profit are the ones that are most critical to our success last year and most important for our success next year," he said.
"So rather than sell them pre-emptively on the expectation of having somebody for whom that capital could be better deployed, we ticked off all of our highest-priority boxes first and foremost
"We didn't think it was wise to lose those players - the quality they bring, the continuity from last season, the familiarity with Daniel Farke's strategy and his process adds a tonne to our squad.
"So unless [selling them] was enabling something truly unique and differential, we'd rather have them here."
Come back to this page later for more from the interview with Evans
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