Comparative: Leeds United’s current wage bill vs Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton Town

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Leeds United’s second season in the Championship must provide promotion for Daniel Farke and the 49ers, but they are unlikely to face complete dominance from the relegated sides this time around.

If you remove Ipswich Town’s historic performance this season, the Championship would have been completely dominated by the three teams relegated from the Premier League in 2023.

It highlights the disparity between the finances available to sides in the top flight and those in the EFL, and the gulf in player quality that often goes along with that.

Leeds, despite entering their second season in the EFL, will have much more firepower than their league rivals this season, but perhaps not those who have since dropped out of the Premier League.

Here, we compare the wage bill respectively for Leeds and their recently relegated counterparts.

What is Leeds United’s current wage bill?

Leeds came into the Championship boasting a much stronger financial position than all but two in the league, with their wage bill the third highest in the league in 23/24.

Of course, only Southampton and Leicester City have paid more over the course of the season in player wages and much more.

According to Capology, Leeds’ weekly wages for players stood at £703,615, which averaged around £27,000 a week for players – which doesn’t take into account the pay cuts that will be paid after relegation .

During the year, Leeds are said to be paying £36,588,000 in salaries.

Such a wage bill is expected to fall even further this summer with some contracts expiring, sales of players looming and loan players getting exits again.

Will Leeds be promoted next season?

Comparative: How Leeds wages compare to Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the three teams that entered the Premier League and went straight back down were the three lowest wage earners.

Luton were 20th in the division with an annual record of £24,362,000significantly less than wages at Elland Road this season.

Sheffield United sat 19th in the Premier League as they bounced back £35,048,000 for player wages, again lower than Leeds in the EFL.

As for Burnley, they spent far more than the other two in transfer fees, but their wages under the departed Vincent Kompany weren’t much different as they paid £36,738,000 – marginally higher than Leeds 23/24 bill.

Obviously, these current wages do not take into account the cost-cutting looming for all three relegated clubs, with confirmed retained lists and imminent departures – which is also the case with Leeds and the 49ers.