Leeds United journalist Phil Hay has shared the latest news surrounding RB Leipzig forward Jean-Kevin Augustin.
During the latest episode of his Leeds-themed podcast The Phil Hay Show, the journalist revealed what the current situation is with the Frenchman after Marcelo Bielsa said in a recent press conference that it was ‘more convenient’ to send him back to Leipzig than keep him at Elland Road (as per LeedsLive).
Hay said: “[Jean-Kevin] Augustin again, ‘it’s more convenient’ is an odd phrase, but I think it’s kind of code for it suited everyone including [Marcelo] Bielsa for Augustin not to be there.
“We know that Leeds have not extended his loan, we know that there is a potential fight coming over this obligation to have to sign Augustin for about £18 million from Leipzig if they do go up.
“I made contact with some of Augustin’s people at the back end of last week and they’re very clear in saying that as far as Augustin is concerned, he thinks his career at Leeds is done. He doesn’t expect to play for the club again. He’s very much under the impression that Bielsa no longer wants him involved, no longer sees him as part of the picture there.
“There is a scenario that comes around where Leeds are forced to pay the money for him depending on how watertight the contract is, and depending on whether there’s any wiggle room with this obligation, but politically it becomes difficult/impossible to actually bring him back to the club given that it’s now becoming apparent that Bielsa doesn’t want him involved, that it’s not a deal Leeds want to go through with and on that basis alone, you can’t see Augustin having any motivation to make this a permanent transfer.
“So, ‘more convenient’, I think is right in the sense that there was nothing to be gained from having an unfit Augustin moping around the place, but ‘more convenient’ certainly doesn’t reflect the situation Leeds are in with this and it doesn’t reflect the fact that Leipzig are not going to go quietly when it comes to forgoing the millions of pounds that they’ve been promised.”
Are you glad Augustin has left Leeds?
Yes
No
The 23-year-old signed to Leeds on loan from Leipzig back in the previous January transfer window. However, after just three appearances for Bielsa’s side, resulting in Augustin playing just 48 minutes of action for the Yorkshire club, the forward left Leeds to return to Leipzig at the end of June.
TIF Thoughts…
It’s a shame that Augustin didn’t really get enough minutes playing for Leeds to prove himself while he was there. However, with Bielsa seemingly glad to be rid of the forward, this suggests that there was some sort of issue between the two under the surface that may have affected his relationship with the Leeds boss.