Leeds United could be forced to cancel £40m+ McKennie deal

Leeds United could be forced to cancel their pre-agreed permanent transfer of Weston McKennie due to how much money they’re being told to pay to Jean-Kevin Augustin.

On 10 April, The Athletic journalist David Ornstein reported that the Whites are found of being in breach of the former loanee’s contract and are being ordered to pay him £24.5million.

It is understood that after Leeds failed to sign Augustin, now at Basel, on a permanent basis from RB Leipzig at the end of his underwhelming loan spell, the Frenchman took his case to FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber, “who found partially in his favour”.

Leeds are said to have appealed against the decision and are refusing to comment on the “ongoing legal matter” but the £24.5million pay-out could be added onto a £15.5million settlement that was already reached with RB Leipzig last year.

In total, Augustin, who played just three times for Leeds in 2020, will cost the Yorkshire club £40million.

Although Leeds’ financial accounts for last season make for good reading, the latest bombshell that a £24.5million pay-out could also be ordered is bound to have a negative effect going forward.

It could be that Leeds’ pre-agreed permanent transfer of Juventus midfielder McKennie hits the skids.

Leeds signed McKennie, 24, on loan from Juve in January but have the option to make the deal permanent for £30million in the summer.

On top of that £30million, Leeds would also have to commit to paying McKennie’s wages. The Daily Star reported on 26 January (page 46, print edition) that he earns around £60,000-a-week on his deal at Juventus.

If Leeds were to sign McKennie on a fairly standard four-year deal for the same wage, that would cost them a further £12.4million. But still, that’s if he doesn’t earn a pay rise if he moved to Elland Road and there were no bonuses, add-ons, clauses or signing-on fees involved.

At the very least, Leeds would have to commit to spending £40million on McKennie – the same figure the club could be forced to shell out to clear up the Augustin mess of 2020.

McKennie’s performances haven’t so far suggested he’s worth £40million of Leeds’ money so it would make sense for the club to cancel this deal in case their appeal is unsuccessful.