Kieran Maguire: Leeds United push for last-gasp ‘discount’ after confirmed £25m transfer news
Leeds United will look to apply discounts to their £24.5million ordered payment to Jean-Kevin Augustin.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about Leeds’ ongoing legal battle surrounding Augustin’s contract.
The Athletic revealed on 10 April that Leeds United must pay Jean-Kevin Augustin £24.5million after being found to have breached his contract.
The 25-year-old forward played just 48 minutes of football for the Yorkshire side when on loan at Leeds in the 2019/20 season.
The loan deal included an obligation to buy the player if promoted, and Leeds eventually achieved promotion after the Covid-19 enforced break to football.
Leeds had previously reached a £15.5m settlement with RB Leipzig over the transfer dispute, but have now been ordered by FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber to pay an additional £24.5m to the player.
Maguire believes the Yorkshire side will push to apply discounts as the payment includes all bonuses in his initial Leeds contract.
“The £24.5million is likely to be the full value of the contract including all bonuses over a five-year period,” Maguire told Football Insider.
“Those bonuses won’t necessarily crystalise so Leeds will be looking to discount on those.
“The player does have an obligation to mitigate any loss, so the money he has earned from France and Switzerland would also be discounted.
“But I imagine the club will have to pay a significant amount after losing the case to RB Leipzig.
“It will be a very frustrating thing for Leeds to deal with.”
In other news, new Leeds United deal on the cards after £26m twist