Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani believes his club can be challenging for a place in the Premier League top six next season if they avoid relegation this term.
Leeds, in their second campaign back in the top flight, have had a tough start to the season, picking up 10 points from their opening 10 games.
But Radrizzani says the partnership with the San Francisco 49ers, who own 37 per cent of the club, can be fundamental in helping Leeds try and force their way back towards the top of the English game.
'Now we are partnered with 49ers, this is fundamentally very important because it will be very difficult to stay in the Premier League, but if we stay in it this year I think we can go much more than last year and go into the top six,' the Italian said at the Web Summit event in Lisbon.