Kieran Maguire tips Leeds to sanction astonishing £160m payout after source reveal
Leeds United could soon see their wage bill rocket past £160million as they establish themselves in the Premier League.
So says finance expert Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Whites' financial trajectory.
This site revealed on 8 September that Leeds' wage bill is expected to soar past the £100m mark this season.
The West Yorkshire outfit have signed off on a number of enhanced player contracts this summer alongside their outlay on transfers.
That has seen their payroll balloon from £78m, as per the club's most recent set of accounts for the last financial year.
But Maguire expects Leeds' wage expenditure to continue to inflate as they assert themselves on the top-flight.
He told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams: "I think, to a certain extent, it comes with the territory of being a Premier League club.
"The average wage bill in the Premier League in 2020 was £162m. The average bill for the 'other 14' clubs was £114m.
"So you're benchmarking yourself. If you are below £100m, you look at the other clubs who are below £100m and that's Watford, Wolves, Norwich and Sheffield United in 2019-20.
"If Leeds are ambitious, I think you would realistically be putting them on a par with the likes of Everton and Leicester, who are on about £160m.
"As Leeds become more established in the Premier League, I would expect a significant increase in the wage bill.
"It's the price you pay for A) attracting and B) keeping talent."