OPINION
Leeds United defender Pontus Jansson is reportedly attracting attention from Premier League outfit West Ham, but the club must keep him at all costs.
The Guardian’s deputy news editor Ed Aarons has reported on his personal Twitter account that the Hammers are keen on a summer move for the 27-year-old.
West Ham are interested in signing Sweden defender Pontus Jansson from Leeds in the summer
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) April 10, 2018
There is no doubt that the no-nonsense centre-back is good enough to make the step up to the top flight, but the Whites can’t afford to let that happen.
Leeds need to begin preparations for next season to try give them a chance of promotion, with yet another disappointing campaign of mediocrity this year.
One main thing that needs to be established is who are the key players in Paul Heckingbottom’s squad that can make a difference moving forward.
Jansson is one of about a handful of first-team players that are at the level required to mount a promotion push and the Yorkshire giants need to build around them.
The Sweden international has become a firm favourite with supporters during his two-year stay in England and still has plenty more to offer.
He was brilliant last season for Leeds, while this campaign he managed to recover from a mini blip to get somewhere near to back towards his best.
If Jansson was to leave it could seriously send the club into freefall, as alongside perhaps Pablo Hernandez and Samuel Saiz he is the best player at Elland Road.
It would be extremely difficult to find a replacement who possesses the same quality and they need to keep hold of him for at least another year.