Phil Hay provides update on whether Leeds can sign players before 49ers receive EFL approval

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Leeds United will be able to make signings before San Francisco 49ers Enterprises receive EFL approval.

That is according to Phil Hay, who was speaking on the latest episode of the Square Ball Podcast, where he explained if Leeds have signings in place, they will happen regardless of whether 49ers Enterprises are still waiting.

49ers Enterprises reached an agreement for a full purchase of Leeds from Andrea Radrizzani’s Aser Ventures over a month ago now.

Despite remaining confident approval will arrive, they are still waiting for the green light from the EFL, which has slowed down Leeds’ summer so far, to an extent.

The Whites had initially hoped it would arrive before appointing a new manager, but with pre-season having started on Wednesday, Leeds felt obliged to bring that forward.

Hay says Leeds can make signings before EFL approval

There is now less than a month until Leeds kick off the new season against Cardiff City and so incomings will have to start sooner rather than later, which Hay says will be the case.

He said: “They’d feel much happier making decisions like Farke for example, players coming and players going if the club was solely in the hands of 49ers Enterprises and the takeover had gone through.

“In practical terms especially now with Radrizzani over running Sampdoria, it doesn’t actually make a great difference especially given everyone is expecting the takeover to go through.

“That was the reason they delayed on appointing a head coach was because they were expecting takeover first, head coach second. It had to be done and was done, and it will be the same with players, and you can tell on the basis that decisions are being made of players going out, that if they can get incomings in line they will happen too.”

This is good news as next week really must starting bringing concrete news of new signings with Leeds’ pre-season schedule already set to begin on Wednesday.

The season really is not far away now and the EFL’s continued wait to provide 49ers Enterprises with approval cannot afford to delay Leeds’ summer anymore.