The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Wednesday 3rd July) Whites turn down £30m Rutter offer
Good Morning. It's Wednesday 3rd June, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Whites turn down £30m Rutter offer
Leeds have turned down a £30m offer from Brighton for talented playmaker Georginio Rutter, according to multiple sources in the press. He joined from Hoffenheim 18 months ago for €40m (£36m), and enjoyed a great start to his first full season with the Whites, creating 22 big chance opportunities and 15 assists, second only to Ipswich Town's Leif Davis (18). His form began to falter towards the end of the campaign, after returning from hernia surgery in late March.
His Achilles heel last season was his wayward shooting in-front of goal. Eight goals from 51 appearances just isn't good enough, especially when you're playing as far forward as Rutter does. At 22, he does have time on his side. It's difficult to criticise the effort and creation the Frenchman exhibits, but will need to find his shooting boots, and quickly, if he is going to achieve his potential.
£30m must have been tempting to the Leeds board, but given he's only 18 months into his 5 1/2 year contract, the FFP depreciation on his contract would only give the Whites a marginal profit, making it not worth their while to sell him. The Financial Fair Play (FFP) impact for players is a result of asset depreciation. Every year, a player loses value equal to 1/the length of their contract. So if you give them a five year contract they lose 20%, if you give them a 10 year contract they lose 10%. That is a loss that’s counted for FFP. So if you give longer contracts, you have a smaller loss each year.
Leeds to avoid FFP penalty after 'late' Archie sale
Leeds will not face the wrath of the EFL, and a possible points deduction if they have stepped outside of the 'Profit and Sustainability' timescale regarding to the 23/24 season. According to an article in this morning's YEP, Leeds needed the sale of Archie Gray to balance the books, a transaction which was only finalised yesterday (2nd July), two days after their financial accounts deadline!
YEP journalist Joe Donnohue has put Leeds fans minds at rest, assuring us that as the club can prove they made every effort to conclude the deal before the deadline, they should avoid any punishment! Due to Leeds’ efforts to conclude a transfer having begun before the deadline, the club can provide paperwork to the relevant authorities - the Premier League and EFL - allowing them to backdate their July 2 sale to the 2023/24 accounting period.
Leeds and Celtic battle it out for O'Hare
Leeds face a battle with Scottish Champions Celtic for the signature of Callum O'Hare. The free scoring midfielder is now out of contract with the Sky Blues, and attracting attention from the green side of Glasgow. O'Hare 26, netted ten times, and provided three assists from just 22 starts last season. He is combative, a good passer of the ball, and likes to get forward!
Born in Solihull, O'Hare is of Irish descent but has represented England at U20 level. He started at youth level with Aston Villa, before joining the Sky Blues in 2020. He has had his fair share of injuries, including an ACL injury on Boxing Day 2022, but as far as free transfers go, why look a gift horse in the mouth?