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Leeds United financial concerns outlined as club continue to plot future development

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Leeds United are looking to expand Elland Road in the coming years, but may need an added cash injection from the San Francisco 49ers.

The Whites are enjoying the wealth of Premier League football right now, with big-money signings being brought in along with grander plans for the infrastructure of the club.

Elland Road is a hot topic right now, and more specifically the timescale of upgrading it to a capacity more befitting of the incredible demand for fans to sell out the stands.

Leeds sold out the ground every other week in the Championship under Marcelo Bielsa, but it was clear the club would need to be a top flight outfit before that discussion took place.

Even now, as the San Francisco 49ers turn the screw on their investment in LS11, it seems as though the scale of the improvements usurps current budgets.

While Andrea Radrizzani has certainly put his hand into his pockets to get Leeds to this point, there are concerns he may be hitting a ceiling when it comes to expanding one of the Premier League’s most raucous venues.

That’s the view of financial expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke on the Price of Football Podcast about the 49ers potential impatience on the matter.

He stated:

“Radrizzani, the majority Leeds shareowner, he’s not given any indication that he is planning to sell the club to the 49ers at a later date but certainly they are in a very strong position should he choose to do so.

“Leeds have spoken about expanding Elland Road to 50,000-60,000 capacity – that is going to cost money. 

“I don’t think Radrizzani has those resources himself whereas the 49ers are more likely to be able to tap into American markets for that so you can see the logic of what they’ve done. 

“They feel that Leeds, as a club, are not generating enough commercial income given the size of the club and the potential of the club.”

It makes sense that the stadium expansion would come as a product of the pending full takeover.

Radrizzani has clearly mapped out plans for this improvement to go ahead, and there’s little indication to suggest he can’t go ahead with this.

However, the extra influx of cash that the 49ers’ added investment would bring could easily catalyse a plan as big as this.

We need it to happen sooner rather than later, and I think the cogs will be in motion already with the NFL franchise already gradually increasing their involvement since promotion.

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Leeds United season ticket holder since 2013/14, currently situated in the middle of the FA5 noise. From Pablo Hernandez to 5-1 drubbings, I've seen it all at Elland Road.