Journalist Graham Smyth has recently made a claim about Barry Douglas’ future at Leeds United.
Smyth was recently hosting the latest episode of the Inside Elland Road podcast and the panel discussed multiple issues involving Leeds United. One player that they focused on was Douglas and Smyth talked about the defender’s future at Elland Road. He believes that the Scotsman could leave the club before the domestic transfer window closes, but Marcelo Bielsa does have a liking for him.
Watford have been linked with a move to sign Douglas and Scottish giants Celtic were also interested in signing the defender. The 31-year-old was excluded from Leeds’ squad for their game against Manchester City recently (as per the Daily Mail).
Smyth feels that Douglas, who is valued at £1.80m, could depart Elland Road before the domestic window slams shut, but Bielsa likes the player.
The journalist said: “For the first time since I started covering Leeds, [there is] a bit of a headache when it comes to picking the matchday squad because there are now options that are going to miss out. One of those is Barry Douglas, who I think it’s fairly clear that he is not going to start under Bielsa as it stands. While Bielsa obviously really likes him because he talked up his professionalism and how prepared he is and his quality, and just because he’s not useful right now, doesn’t mean he won’t be useful.
Should Douglas leave Leeds?
Yes
No
“I think that one is one that if there was a likely outgoing before the deadline, I think that would be it. We know that Watford are keeping tabs on him.”
TIF Thoughts…
This season, Douglas has made just one appearance in all competitions for Leeds and that appearance came in the League Cup game against Hull City as he played the full 90 minutes of the tie. He’s not made it to the matchday squad even once in the Premier League (as per Transfermarkt).
He played only 820 minutes of first-team football last season and made just 17 appearances in all competitions (as per Transfermarkt).
So if Douglas is looking for regular first-team football, he might indeed have to leave Leeds and because of that, it won’t be a surprise if he does depart the club in the domestic transfer window.