'Outstanding...' - Sky Sports man stunned at confirmed Leeds news regarding Radz and the 49ers

Financial expert Kieran Maguire has hailed Leeds United after they shared their 2020/21 accounts, Football Insider report.

The Whites, owned by Andrea Radrizzani and the San Francisco 49ers, announced a profit of £26m for the 2020/21 campaign in the week, in what was their first season back in the Premier League after 16 years.

Leeds, who made a loss of £62m in their Championship winning season, posted a turnover of £171m this time around, which was helped by new partnerships with Adidas and shirt sponsor SBOTOP.

The club also brought in just over £20m in merchandise sales, with £15m coming in from other commercial sources. [FI]

Maguire, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to FI regarding Leeds’ annual numbers.

He labelled them as ‘very encouraging’ and pinpointed the club’s merchandise sales, describing them as ‘outstanding’.

“These are very encouraging figures.

“They had no matchday income or catering income, which together I would expect to be the thick end of £25m.

“When they get matchday income back, it gives them the opportunity to grow. Commercial revenue will only grow as well.

“For me, the outstanding figure was merchandise. To sell £20m worth of merchandise during Covid is indicative of the strength of the fanbase.”

The two contrasting accounts just go to show how crucial Premier League football is to the club, with the Whites recording just their second profit in ten years.

And Leeds took a big step towards ensuring a third season in the division by beating Watford on Saturday.

Another year in the Premier League, along with a possible big-money move to Barcelona for Raphinha, could allow the Whites to back Jesse Marsch in his first transfer window at Elland Road, but there is still work to be done on