OPINION
Leeds United surely face an uphill battle convincing QPR midfielder Luke Freeman to join them as clearly he is ready for the Premier League in his 2019/20 season.
According to London Football News, Marcelo Bielsa is keen to add the 27-year-old playmaker to his squad and as as result Leeds are ready to put a bid on the table for him.
The outlet note that QPR won’t let Freeman go on the cheap, he’s contracted to the club until 2021, but surely their Championship rivals aren’t the only thing that will stop this deal happening.
When talkSPORT first reported Leeds’ interest in the talented playmaker, they claimed a potential moved hinged on the Whites winning promotion to the Premier League.
And newsflash, Leeds didn’t get up.
While some may assume the move was dependent on Leeds winning promotion due to budget issues and financial-related issues, what if it was to do with the player himself?
Freeman has more than proven himself in the Championship and surely if he was to leave QPR, it should be for a top-flight team.
The 27-year-old wowed in a struggling QPR side in his 2018/19 campaign, he scored nine goals and registered eight assists, and was directly involved with 26% of the club’s league goals (Source: Transfermarkt).
If that season was a one-off, then perhaps he’d jump ship to a promotion-chasing Championship side, but that isn’t the case.
Freeman lit the league up in his 2017/18 campaign as well as he scored five goals and racked up an incredible 13 assists in 48 outings.
These stats across the two campaigns, should have Premier League clubs calling, and they likely do, so why should Freeman go and commit himself to another club that’s in the Championship.
He clearly has learnt all he can from the division and proven that he is more than capable of moving on from the league.
So while Bielsa’s side might be among the favourites to get promoted next season, clearly Freeman is ready to play in the top-flight now.
This means that Leeds surely face a bit of a battle in trying to sign Freeman even though they could soon bid for his services.