Leeds Live’s Beren Cross has compiled a report of Leeds United’s current squad, noting which members of Marcelo Bielsa’s team have futures at Elland Road.
Bielsa signed Barry Douglas for Leeds United in July 2018 from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a deal believed to be worth £3.06m, according to Transfermarkt.co.uk. The 30-year-old left-back had made 42 appearances for the West Midlands club, providing 15 assists and scoring five goals before making the move to Yorkshire.
TIF Tactics – Why has it never happened for Douglas at Leeds?
The Scottish defender has struggled with injuries and as a result, the likes of Stuart Dallas and Ezgjan Alioski have taken his place. Douglas has been limited to just 39 appearances for the club and with his contract due to expire in June 2021, Cross believes it is unlikely he’ll remain with the Whites beyond the end of his current deal.
Here’s exactly what he had to say as he suggested Douglas only had a short-term future in West Yorkshire:
“It just hasn’t happened for the Scot at Elland Road. Injuries have crippled his ability to gather any momentum, and since he arrived, Stuart Dallas and Ezgjan Alioski have each muscled in on his turf. Hard to see him remaining beyond the end of his current deal in 2021.”
This season, he has featured in the starting eleven just 11% of the time in the league, playing just 13% of Leeds United’s overall minutes in the second tier.
Formerly of Dundee United, Lech Poznan and Konyaspor – Douglas is currently valued at £1.8m according to Transfermarkt.co.uk. His average performance rating in the Championship this season currently stands at 6.39/10 according to WhoScored.com, and although the sample size is somewhat small when you compare it to the likes of Dallas and Alioski, you can understand why the player has struggled to re-establish himself.
Dallas has made 37 appearances in the competition so far this season and his rating stands at a more impressive 6.9/10, with Ezgjan Alioski’s at 6.7/10.