A section of Leeds United fans have expressed surprise after a bid was seemingly accepted by the club for Pontus Jansson this summer.
Jansson’s revealed to Swedish journalist Andreas Sundberg of Sweden’s TV 4 that he rejected a lucrative offer from Russian side Krasnodar this summer after thinking long and hard about it.
“I asked him about Krasnodar and he said, ‘It was an interesting offer and it was a lot of money but after he thought a lot about it, he wanted to stay at Leeds’,” Sundberg told BBC Radio Leeds on Tuesday.
? Jansson wanted to stay
?? Leeds United defender Pontus Jansson talks to Sweden's TV 4 @A_Sundberg about cutting out the beers & turning down an offer from Russia. #lufc
?? https://t.co/GU7AI6LeQW pic.twitter.com/jHhEgwX6QZ
— Adam Pope (@apopey) September 4, 2018
Leeds supporters are mystified that the club appeared to be willing to allow the giant centre-back to leave and make his own mind up over Krasnodar’s bid, with comments including “I’m absolutely stunned”.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below.
COMMENTARY:
Jansson is not one for hiding behind platitudes and cliches when speaking to the media. He is a straight-shooter who is only ever totally honest and delivers piercing insight, whether in his mother tongue or in English. His heart-on-sleeve playing style made him an almost instant terrace hero when he arrived, initially on loan, at Leeds two years ago, and the affection from supporters has barely dissipated since. Who can blame fans for being slightly flummoxed that United would be willing to grant him an exit, even at a reported near-£10million fee? Some point out the club only want players who are desperate to wear the shirt. Fair point, but Leeds can hardly be accused of being overly ambitious under Andrea Radrizzani, can they? The Marcelo Bielsa appointment shocked the football world, but when it comes to recruitment and player trading, Leeds are a mid-table Championship club. Selling Jansson would have delivered that message loud and clear.
Why would he move to career suicide Russia when he can play for Marcelo Bielsa and 32000 at ER every other week…?
— Neil ? (@GoneBerardi) September 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/JoshAHobbs/status/1037275618516369409
https://twitter.com/1970Garforth/status/1037092162364690432
Professionalism issues which is why we accepted a bid? But now sorted himself out?
— Darren W (@WorsnopD) September 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/HmeisterGeneral/status/1037028668151943168
Club willing to sell it seems is annoying.
— Pete ? Psycho Killer ???????? (@BadgeSmiley) September 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/N4gativeA/status/1037057284457881603
https://twitter.com/cdog194/status/1037114177427591168