OPINION
Leeds have wowed the Championship this season with some scintillating football under Marcelo Bielsa.
And they’re now closer to the Premier League than at any time since they were relegated in 2004.
Three points ahead of Sheffield United with four games to play has left Leeds in need of just three more wins and a draw to go up – and that’s if Sheffield United win all of their remaining games.
It’s an exciting time to be a Leeds fan but there’s still work to be done and until they’re mathematically up, you won’t find any fans counting their chickens.
The stakes are high – as are the rewards. The riches of the Premier League await, along with parachute payments if they can’t stay up there.
But, if they miss out, the consequences could be catastrophic. The Daily Mail has already claimed that Andrea Radrizzani could sell up and Bielsa could leave if they stay in the Championship.
And Football Insider has now reported that Premier league side Bournemouth are readying a £25million double swoop for Kalvin Phillips and Jack Clarke. Both players have been standouts for Leeds this season, although Clarke has faded from the first-team since his recovery from a virus had kept him on the sidelines.
The report claims that Bournemouth want the two players whether Leeds or promoted or not.
However, if they go up, they’ll be determined to keep hold of all their top players. If they stay in the Championship, though, there could be financial realities that dictate certain decisions – and cashing in on players could be a necessary evil.
The report claims that Phillips is rated at £15million, while Clarke is valued at £10million. It’s a lot of money but Leeds fans won’t want to lose either. There’s a feeling that Leeds are on the brink of a return to its former glory, with a firm foundation of talented youngsters complimenting the first-team squad.
There’s not a lot of money at Elland Road though. And if the unthinkable happens and Leeds do miss out on promotion, these transfer rumours might become a sad reality. There’s one way to avoid that – and that’s to keep getting the results on the pitch. The stakes couldn’t be any higher at Elland Road over the next few weeks.