Which Leeds figures are behind transfer dealings and who can say no to a signing

When speaking to reporters this month, Paraag Marathe wanted to underline that Leeds United ’s transfer decision-making process has not changed in the past three years.

Questions over this topic had arisen after Daniel Farke had made a point about wanting the ‘final say’ when it came to sporting matters during his press conference epilogue ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion.

“So far, this club wanted me to run the sport and wanted me to be there with the final decision in everything. Perhaps they have other thoughts in the process going forward. Perhaps not,” he mused.

“We have to speak about it, but one thing is also for sure, I will just lead the project when I’m in charge and I will overtake the decisions, like I’ve done in recent years.”

Since then, the mist has seemed to dissipate. After the final game of the season against West Ham United, Farke confirmed he and Marathe had been in discussions about future plans since survival was secured.

The Leeds chairman would later share his “hope and expectation is that [Farke is] with us for a while” as he enters the final year of his contract. Marathe added on renewal talks : “I think we both have an interest in keeping this going.

“And so at the right time and in the right way, we'll have those conversations. He’s a big part of our future.”

The 49ers chief also confirmed Farke retained the right to say no to a transfer target, stressing: “We are not going to sign a player that Daniel doesn't want or that doesn't fit his system. Period.”

So the manager has the chance to veto a transfer if he is not sure about the prospect, which means the moves for Lucas Perri and Facundo Buonanotte rest on his shoulders as much as the successes of Anton Stach and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

But he is hardly the only figure to have a say in matters. In fact, a number of recruitment members have the right to veto a signing.

Of course, Marathe himself is one of them. Managing director Robbie Evans is another, as is sporting director Adam Underwood while head of recruitment Alex Davies also gives his view.

“I think it's actually really rewarding that [the] group that works really well together,” said Marathe, who has promoted all of the aforementioned men into their roles.

Farke has said before that he does not concern himself with the financial matters, with these largely resting on Marathe, Evans and co.

Underwood is the first face potential signings meet when approached by Leeds, and he oversees most of the process until the final stages.

Evans, Underwood and Davies all spent their first summer in their respective roles last year and came out with credit in the bank given the vast majority of transfer successes. They will feel more assured going into a summer that will look slightly different.

Leeds’ spending scope is being slightly squashed thanks to the new Squad Cost Ratio finance rules due to come in this summer, as the club targets higher-quality individuals that can push into the starting XI.

Marathe has every faith in his staff. “I'm actually particularly proud of those guys because they took a lot of flack last season for being first-timers,” he said. “I'm so proud of those guys because they ignored the noise, kept their head down, did their work and so it's just so rewarding.”

Farke can have faith in them too. Thanks to Marathe’s media chat, any creases created by the manager’s comments last month have now been ironed out with clarity given.

Farke may rightly not want “status quo” in regards to on-field ambition but it is surely a good thing that this very much the case in the boardroom.

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