Behind the scenes at Leeds United - Marathe's interview, Red Bull deal and the retained list

Plenty has happened at Elland Road since Leeds United's season came to an end a fortnight ago. Defeat to Southampton in the Championship play-off final at Wembley consigned the Whites to another year in the second year of English football.

It will not be a straightforward task for Daniel Farke to pick his team up and go again. United finished third in the regular league season after accumulating 90 points but missed out on automatic promotion. It was the first time since Sunderland in 1998 that a team had won 90 points in the second tier and failed to go up.

Player sales look inevitable after failing to achieve promotion straight back to the Premier League. Here, Leeds Live has taken a look back at some of the key developments in the early weeks of a busy summer.

Read more: Departing Leeds United attacker wanted by Sheffield Wednesday and three other Championship clubs

Marathe's big interview

The 49ers Enterprises chief spoke to the media for the first time as Leeds United chairman within 48 hours of a devastating Championship play-off final loss. He offered his backing to Farke, saying: "Daniel has been fantastic. I'm excited about working with him again this season. We set out to do this, we had a long-term plan, a long-term commitment, not just me to him, but him to me. We have a lot of work to do and we have to see our plan through.

“He has been tremendous with a steady hand, the right temperament. If you think about the circumstances [when] he first came in, I can't remember exactly how many days we had between his official hiring and the first day of training, but it wasn't many.

“You saw how the start of our season was, with just so many ins and outs and difficult, challenging players situations. He did a tremendous job and so I'm excited about getting back at it with him as my partner and with our leadership team.

“I really feel confident about the season particularly because we have at least a four or five-week headstart on what we had last year.”

Marathe addressed their transfer debt, Archie Gray's future, Profitability and Sustainability regulations, Elland Road redevelopment plans and a number of other topics. He stressed there will be money available for recruitment but refused to rule out player sales as the Whites look to cut their cloth accordingly after missing out on the Premier League riches.

“Let me lead with this: we are well-capitalised from an investment standpoint,” he said. “We have the funds we need to do what we need to do. The reality of being in the Championship is P&S plays a role.

“We also inherited a challenging situation, which you guys have all seen, so there will naturally need to be some trade-offs, but it's not just outs, it’s ins as well. We have a really good team looking at scouting possibilities for impressive players we can bring in.

“We will have to make some trade-offs because of P&S, but we have the investment committed, that commitment, we need, to do what we need to do.”

Red Bull announcement

This one came completely out of the blue. United confirmed that the Austrian energy drink giant had bought a minority stake in the club and will become the front-of-shirt sponsor of the Whites from the 2024-25 campaign onwards.

United added the new multi-year agreement will "bring in new commercial revenues as well as additional capital investment". Marathe said: “As Chairman, our consortium of investment partners will be invaluable to me as we approach this important moment for the club, now and into the future. Red Bull’s addition is a historic milestone that will further empower the club to reach its full competitive potential.”

In an interview with The Athletic, Marathe addressed a number of questions around Red Bull’s investment. Among the main headlines, the Whites chairman reiterated their announcement nothing would be done to the club’s name. He said the influx of cash is significant enough to make a telling impact in the transfer market this summer.

“I wouldn’t say it was a concern,” he said. “It’s definitely something I wanted to address. I’m not talking about whatever their positive or negative history is.

“I’m talking about understanding our history and understanding and respecting our legacy. So, for example, this club is and will forever be Leeds United Football Club.

“It’s not going to be the Leeds Red Bulls. To be fair, they understand that. They appreciate that. They respect that. They know the legacy of this club, so it’s not something they wanted either, but, for me, that was table stakes.

“That’s not going to happen. The only way this partnership was going to come to fruition was their recognition, as minority investors, just as with the others, they’re there to lend advice when I need it, but it’s our group’s management of this club and my leadership of this club.

“Let me say it again, that’s not going to change. This is a minority and minority-only partnership. On the sensitivities, we wouldn’t have done this deal if it wasn’t significant for us. It could be the difference between saving a player from being sold or signing a player.”

Pre-season programme

Preparations for next year are gathering pace, with two friendlies arranged thus far for Farke's senior squad. The Whites will visit League Two outfit Harrogate Town on on Friday, July 19 for a 7.30pm kick-off. It will be the first time Leeds have faced the Sulphurites since 2017 when Pablo Hernandez and Kemar Roofe got on the scoresheet in a 4-2 win.

United have also announced they will face La Liga side Valencia in a warm-up fixture at Elland Road on August 3, a week before the start of the new season. Ruben Baraja’s side finished ninth in La Liga last term, narrowly missing out on European qualification. United say ticket information for the two confirmed friendlies, as well as additional pre-season dates, will be announced in due course for supporters.

It remains to be seen where Farke may want to take his squad away for a pre-season training camp.

The retained list

Eleven players will wave goodbye to United at the end of the month when their contracts expire. Sam Byram has triggered a one-year extension while Liam Cooper and Jamie Shackleton's futures remain up in the air. United are keen to retain the services of Cooper and Shackleton.

Right-back Cody Drameh has been offered fresh terms after spending the final year of his contract out on loan. By offering him a new deal, United have ensured, if Drameh signs elsewhere, they will be due compensation because he is under 24-years-old.

Retained list in full:

The following player has triggered a one-year extension clause within his contract:

Sam Byram

The following players will be released when their contracts expire:

Charlie Allen

Luke Ayling

Lewis Bate

Keenan Carole

Stuart Dallas

Cuba Diboe

Scott Godden

Ian Poveda

Morten Spencer

Harvey Sutcliffe

Dani van den Heuvel

The following players have been offered new contracts by the club:

Harry Christy

Cody Drameh

Joseph Snowdon

Luca Thomas

The club is in talks with the following players about extending their contracts:

Liam Cooper

Jamie Shackleton

The following players will return to their parent clubs following the conclusion of their loans:

Jaidon Anthony

Connor Roberts

Joe Rodon

The following scholars have been offered a professional contract:

Connor Douglas

Reuben Lopata-White

Joseph Richards

Daniel Toulson

Marley Wilson

The following scholar has had a third-year scholarship option activated:

Oscar Dawber