Leeds United have sent scouts to watch Newcastle’s Jack Colback as the Magpies look to offload the out-of-favour midfielder in January, according to the Chronicle.
Colback, 28, has been told in no uncertain terms that he is not part of Rafa Benitez’s plans, and rejected a chance to move away from the club in August for ‘geographical reasons.’
The midfielder has been training with the club’s youth teams and playing for the Newcastle U-23s, and Leeds dispatched scouts to run the rule over him during a 4-1 win over Reading.
Colback is reportedly earning £40,000-per-week, a hefty sum for Newcastle, and a salary that dwarfs many of their first team players.
Good move for Leeds United?
If you put Colback’s little rebellion against his club aside, this is a very solid midfielder that would strengthen Leeds’ midfield significantly.
Colback has played 178 times for both Sunderland and Newcastle in the Premier League, while also making 79 Championship appearances for Ipswich and the Magpies.
To gain his top-flight experience and Championship know-how would be a coup for Thomas Christiansen as he looks to get the Whites back on track and push for a play-off place.
This is Futbol rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
You would think that a move to a club like Leeds would appeal to a player who seems unwanted by other top-flight clubs, but Colback’s recent refusal to leave Newcastle throws up some issues.
He was reportedly offered the chance to join Hull City or Wolves on loan in the summer, and turned down both clubs for ‘geographical reasons.’
If Colback still retains his ambition to stay in the North East, then it is hard to see him going to Leeds after rejecting fellow Yorkshire club Hull.
However, Colback may have realised that he has no chance of playing at Newcastle, and rotting in the reserves for a few months may have opened his eyes to a move elsewhere.
If that has happened, then Leeds would seem a good option.
This is Futbol rating: 5/10