Leeds could abandon legal action and agree Leicester ‘settlement’ – Keith Wyness
Leeds United are facing a “much harder job” with their legal case against Leicester City than Burnley in their recent battle with Everton.
That is according to former Toffees chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Whites are wrong to have taken the legal route against the Foxes.
The West Yorkshire outfit are currently seeking an assessment of damages after Leicester breached PSR rules when they were automatically promoted from the Championship back in 2023-24.
The hearing for the case is currently scheduled to take place next summer, but Wyness still believes that the two clubs could reach a “settlement” without the need for a court date.
Everton were recently ordered to pay Burnley a compensation package of £35million for a similar case, but Wyness has stressed that Leeds face a much more difficult task than the Clarets to prove any sporting disadvantage.
He is strongly against the idea of clubs taking legal action against each other, and has instead urged the pair to settle the issue through a Premier League “arbitration.”
Leeds’ legal case should be sorted ‘behind the scenes’
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Leeds need to take a “cold shower” over their issue with Leicester, and instead try to settle the problem “behind the scenes.”
He feels that it would be “sensible” for both clubs to reach an agreement away from public view, rather than allowing the saga to play out through the legal route.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained some of the other possible outcomes for the case.
“I think all clubs have got to take a cold shower and decide to try and do things behind the scenes and get it sorted out rather than going legal,” the Scottish businessman said.
“I think they've got a much harder job than the Everton-Burnley situation in terms of proving this case. I think it will end up being a settlement, and I don't think they need to go through the legal side.
“If both clubs are being sensible, if they went to an arbitration done by the Premier League in some way, they'd find it would be a settlement now. It's a difficult one, but I just don't think the legal formula is the way forward for clubs.
“They've got to start to resolve and get these things fixed quickly at much smaller sums, and put the past behind us and try and move on.”
Leeds ‘favourites’ to seal Julian Brandt transfer
Wyness previously told Football Insider earlier this week that Leeds are the current “favourites” to sign attacking midfielder Julian Brandt on a free transfer this summer.
The 30-year-old is a free agent after leaving Borussia Dortmund, and his father recently held talks with the Whites over a potential move to Elland Road.
Wyness believes that Daniel Farke’s side are currently at the front of the queue for his signature, despite Brandt being subject to interest from clubs across Europe.
The German notched seven goals and four assists in the Bundesliga last term, and could be about to bring his talents to the Premier League for the first time in his career.