A section of Leeds United fans have reacted with anger and scepticism on Twitter after Phil Hay reported that the club’s pursuit of Abel Hernandez is almost dead in the water.
The Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent has claimed on his personal Twitter account that United are unsure whether to commit the funds needed to land the striker, even though he is a free agent after leaving Hull City last month.
Hay explained that he does not see Hernandez joining the Championship giants as they simultaneously work on a deal to prise Matej Vydra from Derby County.
Abel Hernandez's agent quoted in South America as saying Hernandez now has an offer from CSKA Moscow. Leeds been holding off on that one. Unsure whether to commit the funds with other talks (like Vydra) going on. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) July 4, 2018
I don't see Hernandez happening as the figures involved current stand.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) July 4, 2018
This has not gone down well with United fans on Twitter, with one comments even calling for the head of new manager Marcelo Bielsa.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
What happened to Leeds been confident of been able to afford him?
— ASW (@AlexWilcockson) July 4, 2018
You and everyone else knows we aren't going to sign either of them…we'll end up with a striker from some 2nd class euro league who scored 2 goals in 50 odd games last year…same year in year out #lufc
— scott larsen (@scottlarsen_pi) July 4, 2018
Or if we do sign him we will firesale Viera and Jansson a week before the window shuts
Everybody has that nagging feeling in the back of their mind that this is all a smoke screen, i can't shake that feeling off.
Everything is taking too long if the deals off just tell us?
— jamie (@jamie19843) July 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/THuff1994/status/1014480625938718720
Agreed. #BielsaOut
— Robert Dent (@rdent_) July 4, 2018
Vydra £11m
Hernandez £3m (signing on fee, £30k wage)In the grand scheme of things it really isn’t that much more to commit. Just get both done @andrearadri
— Kurtis Steele (@FaxBrony) July 4, 2018
Phil it doesn't matter now if we don't sign Hernandez or Vydra the club will have sold a few season tickets on the back of speculation ???
— Craig. (@bandforgood) July 4, 2018
COMMENTARY
It’s safe to say there is plenty of scepticism from Leeds supporters on social media. Given the club’s wretched record over the last decade and a half, and the patchy ownership of Andrea Radrizzani, fans are still far from convinced despite the landmark appointment of Argentine coaching mastermind Bielsa. Leeds are crying out for a spearhead of craft and quality, who knows how to find the back of the net on a regular basis. They have strongly been linked with Hernandez since the end of last season, and it is regarded as a blow that the pursuit now appears over. Given that he would be a free transfer, although the deal would involve other costs such as a significant signing-on fee and a wage bill-shattering salary, supporters are miffed that he won’t be arriving and many believe interest was leaked just to sell season tickets.