OPINION
Leeds won’t have a lot of money to spend on new players this summer as they prepare for another campaign in the Championship after their play-off heartbreak.
And they might well have less than they were hoping for with the claim from Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay that the club might only get £3million for midfielder Samu Saiz.
He had a disappointing loan spell at Getafe and according to Hay they won’t be taking up the £6million option to make his move permanent.
And, Hay says his sources in Spain have said that Leeds would do well to get any more than £3million for him.
That could have an impact on the players Marcelo Bielsa can bring in this summer, but the Saiz conundrum could be solved by 19-year-old Jamie Shackleton.
The youngster made 24 appearances last season as he broke through into the first team. And the youngster, who learned his trade in midfield, was also used at right-back.
His versatility was proved in the play-off second leg against Derby where, despite defeat, Shackleton played brilliantly in the no.10 role for Leeds. In fact he was the best player for Leeds.
He came on for Forshaw in the first leg too and showed incredible poise and confidence for someone so young in games of such magnitude.
In the second leg he showed he wasn’t scared of running with the ball, and enjoyed an 81% pass success, according to WhoScored, as well as making two tackles.
His position has yet to be nailed down yet but Bielsa obviously thinks very highly of him saying that he plays like a “veteran” despite only being 19. He’s got pace, energy and the creativity to thrive in the Leeds side next season.
The Premier League might have come too soon for him but he’s capable of stepping up and winning a regular first-team place in the Championship next season.
Could he make it in the number 10 role? On the evidence we’ve seen so far, we absolutely think so.