Leeds United could face financial hardship as owner Andrea Radrizzani’s sports firm, Eleven Sports UK, is on the brink of closure, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The Italian businessman acquired rights to showcase UFC, La Liga, Serie A and the Eredivisie in the UK at the start of the season, but the financial viability of the company has come under scrutiny.
Radrizzani’s sports streaming service is in danger of shutting down as they have failed to attract enough customers and he owes £30m in rights fees to the clients.
The 44-year-old is looking to restructure the company and remains hopeful of finding a way out of his current predicament, but it has been claimed Leeds could come under financial pressure soon.
Leeds are now facing more pressure to return to the Premier League next season as there are concerns Radrizzani could halt the cash-flow into the club because of Eleven Sports UK’s potential closure.
Radrizzani has invested a considerable sum since taking over Leeds from Massimo Cellino in May last year, buying back Elland Road and making Marcelo Bielsa the highest-paid coach in the club’s history last summer.
Under the Argentine, Leeds are currently second in the Championship and have managed to sustain a strong promotion push.
It remains to be seen whether Radrizzani’s troubles affect Leeds’ spending power in January if Bielsa decides to dip into the transfer market for players.
