Leeds United have done exceptionally well to keep their heads above water in the promotion battle, but they face a problem.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Leeds United face a recruitment quandary with Rasmus Kristensen, who may not fit into Farke’s plans following his loan spell at Roma.
- Kristensen may struggle to find a new club prepared to pay close to the £10 million Leeds paid for him, presenting a difficult scenario.
- The Danish right-back could be hesitant to depart, complicated matters further and potentially affecting Leeds’ transfer money.
Leeds United are nearing the finish line in the Championship, hoping to return to the Premier League at the first opportunity – but regardless of which tier they end up in, Daniel Farke has a problem to cope with before the summer deadline.
The Whites are now top of the second tier, but with a game in hand over Leicester City, who may leapfrog them by as little as a point; and if they return to the top division, there will definitely be a busy summer ahead in terms of recruitment and preparation to escape relegation.
Plenty of spots need to be filled with quality, but with Leeds loaning out many of last season’s stars in preparation for a rapid return to the top division, Farke must decide who he wants to keep in the squad ahead of their survival push. Rasmus Kristensen may get the axe, as Roma is unlikely to commit him on a permanent contract.
Why Leeds United will have to cope with a £10 million issue this summer.
Kristensen joined Leeds from Red Bull Salzburg at the beginning of last season, and while he played a significant role in their campaign, his efforts were insufficient to prevent Leeds’ relegation to the Championship after three years in the top tier.
Kristensen was then loaned to Roma in the summer, with Djed Spence, Connor Roberts, Luke Ayling, and Archie Gray all doing their part to excel at right-back – and it has worked so far, with Gray particularly shining in the position and Roberts fitting in perfectly after his January deadline-day loan move from Burnley.
Kristensen will return to Leeds once his loan spell at Roma expires, but he is no longer in Farke’s plans, with Gray excelling at right-back and Roberts potentially available for transfer, with Leeds likely to swap places with Burnley as the Clarets struggle in the Premier League.
Farke now finds himself in a difficult situation. Kristensen isn’t a fan of Roma, and he might likely be third-choice right-back by the time he returns to West Yorkshire – but the challenge is finding a club keen enough to pay a fee close to the £10 million he cost Salzburg two years ago.
However, a larger difficulty may arise in the form of Kristensen’s refusal to go.
The 20-cap Denmark international has the right to compete for a spot in what is regarded as the greatest in the world, so he may drag his heels and refuse to move in order to force his way into the squad. Of course, this could mean Roberts does not sign a permanent agreement, leaving Leeds with less transfer money to spend, putting Farke in a difficult position.
Rasmus Kristensen’s recent transfer
Kristensen will not be on Roma’s radar, according to Corriere dello Sport. He’s had a poor campaign in the Italian city, and Roma’s deal lacks an option to buy provision, making negotiations much more difficult from Leeds’ perspective.
As a result, they’ll have to devote more time and effort to determining his future in the summer, though it may be a positive if he shines in pre-season and properly competes with Gray for the right-back position.
