OPINION
Leeds United star Pontus Jansson has confirmed that there are clubs chasing his signature this summer, and that leaves director of football Victor Orta with a major decision to make on his future.
The Sun on Sunday reported in their print edition [page 61, 24 December] that Southampton were interested in a January swoop for the centre-back as a replacement for Virgil van Dijk.
There is yet to be any real speculation about the Saints still looking to sign Jansson this summer after they managed to avoid relegation from the Premier League, but given what he has now said, they will surely be on the look-out once again.
The 27-year-old offered a major hint to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that he may have to quit Elland Road in order to pursue his dream of playing in the Premier League – news that no Leeds fan wanted to hear.
“I want to play in the Premier League. But I do not want to take those questions before the World Cup. I have said that to Martin (Dahlin, his agent),” Jansson said.
He added: “There is interest.
“All I know is that I’m going to stay in England. It will be a lot for me to leave England. I really enjoy Leeds. But I want to see the ambitions that now is the time to take the lead up to the Premier League.”
Jansson is clearly someone who is eager to play in the Premier League, whether it is at Leeds or with someone else, and given the fact that the Yorkshire giants finished 13th this season, it’s likely that he may want to quit.
That leaves director of football Orta with a major decision to make.
Leeds could cash in on Jansson, who is likely to be one of their most valuable assets, and use the funds to strengthen other areas of the squad such as the strikeforce, which has to be bolstered this summer.
However what Orta should try to do is keep hold of the Sweden international.
Leeds’ defence would be a mess without Jansson, whose no-nonsense style of play and passion for the club has quickly seen him become a fan favourite at Elland Road.
Would Leeds replace him with someone better? Probably not. And the chance that there could be a reunion with Jansson and Kyle Bartley this summer means that he absolutely must be kept at the club.