Giuseppe Bellusci’s long-anticipated exit from Leeds United is reportedly in doubt – and the club’s supporters have made it clear they want the defender to leave in the summer transfer window.
Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent Phil Hay reported on his personal Twitter account on Sunday night that the 27-year-old may not now be making a permanent move to Empoli.
Bellusci joined the Italian club on a season-long loan last summer but the deal is said to include a clause to make it a permanent transfer.
However, Hay reported that Empoli’s relegation from Serie A “casts some doubt” over whether the transfer will now proceed.
Bellusci and Empoli relegated from Serie A. Casts some doubt over a permanent move:https://t.co/4JHWZhYtQf
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) May 28, 2017
Bellusci’s agent told TuttoMercatoWeb in April that there was a strong possibility the centre-back would move permanently to Empoli this summer when his loan deal expires.
The defender, whose performances and attitude during his two seasons at Leeds following his arrival in the summer of 2014 was the subject of much criticism, has 12 months left on his deal with the Championship club.
Leeds supporters on social media that they don’t want Bellusci back at the club, and would prefer the Yorkshire giants take the financial hit of paying him off.
Here is a selection of their messages on Twitter:
@PhilHayYEP I’d love to see bellusci and jansonn together
— Craig Doherty (@Mrcd1990) May 28, 2017
@lufcThommo @PhilHayYEP Pay him off
— Mark McAllister (@Buybeckford) May 28, 2017
@PhilHayYEP Brescia with Cellino and silvestri buy two get doukara free
— Nick Cross (@clouseofbristol) May 28, 2017
@Buybeckford @PhilHayYEP God yeah.. getting rid would be like a new signing.
— Lee Thompson (@lufcThommo) May 28, 2017
@PhilHayYEP “Cancelled by mutual consent” has a nice ring to it #LUFC
— Ian H (@IanH987) May 28, 2017
@PhilHayYEP I dare him to come back now.
— CK (@ephemeraljoy) May 28, 2017
Leeds are likely to be in the market for at least one centre-back this summer as Kyle Bartley has returned to parent club Swansea after a hugely successful campaign in the defence assembled by recently-departed manager Garry Monk.