Giuseppe Bellusci has been granted permission to sort out a permanent transfer from Leeds United – and the club’s supporters have made it clear they do not want the defender to return.
The Yorkshire Evening Post claim that the Championship club have allowed the defender, 27, to remain in Italy and resolve his future with a view to pushing through another move to a Serie A club.
The Italian centre-back spent the 2016-17 season on loan at Empoli, where he made 33 appearances in all competitions, but their relegation from the top flight on the final day of the season eliminated his chances of converting his temporary stay into a permanent one.
Bellusci, who has another 12 months left to run on his Leeds deal, has been deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Thomas Christiansen and did not return to pre-season training with the first-team squad at the start of this week.
Italian top-flight trio Cagliari, Bologna and Benevento are all said to be interested in signing a player whose performances and attitude during his two seasons at Leeds following his arrival in the summer of 2014 was the subject of much criticism.
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.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
Give him all the time he needs.
— Rich (@B1GRich74) June 28, 2017
Take as long as he wants just hurry up and go lol
— Kenneth Roy Brown (@kennybrown1964) June 28, 2017
Let me know when it happens so I can pack his bags for him. #lufc
— Lee (@LUFCLad1984) June 28, 2017
Rather not even get money for him, rather we terminate his contract and flick him the v’s! No place for him at Leeds!
— Alistair Woods (@alistair_woods) June 28, 2017
Why dont they just release him and pay him off?
— Sniffer (@trevorfw) June 28, 2017
Phil are the club really saying to the player please stay away and sort out a move
— Al Barrie (@White_Rose_Al) June 28, 2017
Good to hear
— Follow Me And LUFC (@FollowMeAndLUFC) June 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.
The Yorkshire giants are reportedly working on eight new signings after sealing the arrival of midfielder Mateusz Klich, with three of them centre-backs.