OPINION
The fans at Leeds United might argue that last summer’s transfer window did them more harm than good after a number of senior signings flopped at Elland Road.
The likes of Pawel Cibicki and Caleb Ekuban have hardly done anything to endear themselves to the Whites faithful and there will be many who suggest that they are among a handful of players who are stealing a living at the club.
With Andrea Radrizzani’s first year at the helm going significantly worse than expected, he knows improvements must be made over the coming months, but will have to splash the cash to do so.
Offloading those who are deemed surplus to requirements will be his first port of call in a bid to source some additional funds but getting players off the books is easier said than done.
Take striker Marcus Antonsson for example, who seems to have no future at Elland Road after spending last season on loan to Blackburn Rovers.
The Swedish forward, who stands at six foot tall (source: Transfermarkt), is said by Fotboll Direkt to be catching the eye of a number of clubs back in his homeland, but the problem is the wages that he demands – said to be £64,000-a-week, or £16,000-a-month in England.
Considering his lowly position in the Leeds squad, those sort of wages are well beyond what they should be spending, and it is clear that offloading him would help open up space in the club for new arrivals – even if it means cancelling his contract, which has a year left to run, early.
Antonsson himself has left the door wide open over an exit this summer, telling Expressen: “I do not close any doors at all. Anything can happen but I assume I’m Leeds player when I get back. It is flattering when the top clubs in all Sweden show interest.”
No Swedish side is going to be able to afford the money he is on now and pay a transfer fee, but his contractual situation means it would be a nominal demand anyway, and it would be in Radrizzani’s best interest to tear the deal up and hand him a move back home this summer.