Leeds United must cash in on Premier League flop Daniel James in controversial summer decision
Leeds United should look to cash in on Daniel James if they earn promotion back to the Premier League this summer despite his brilliance this season.
The Whites currently sit top of the Championship table on goal difference, having played one game more than Leicester City and one point ahead of Ipswich in the race for automatic promotion.
Daniel Farke has put together a system that is getting the best out of a host of the club’s attacking players, regardless of which combination he chooses to go with.
For most of the season his preferred choice has been to use Crysencio Summerville on the left wing with Daniel James on the right, with a combined 27 goals and 15 assists in the league.
Wilfried Gnonto has recently come into the side and added six goals and one assist in his last ten appearances, to show that he has the quality to shine after a slow start.
But with Premier League football surely brewing ahead of the new season, decisions will need to be made on the squad and this could be the best chance the team has of cashing in on the Wales international.
Leeds United should sell Dan James if they get promoted
James has been a regular in the team this season and performed, with the high-energy style of Farke really suiting him and allowing him to blossom in a front-footed, attacking team.
But in the Premier League Leeds are unlikely to be able to adopt a similar approach and that should be taken into account.
When James moved to Elland Road from Manchester United he penned a five-year contract, meaning he will be entering the final two years of his deal in the summer.
It will also comfortably be the best season of his career meaning his stock is at an all-time high, but Leeds should not be ignoring the fact he has failed dismally in the Premier League in his career at every attempt.
During his time at Old Trafford he managed 50 Premier League appearances and just six goals over two full seasons. His one season in the top-flight at Elland Road saw just four goals in 32 appearances under Bielsa, while a season-long loan at Fulham last time out saw him manage just two goals in 20 games.
It’s clear that his style and ability is best suited to the Championship, so if Leeds want to be a serious Premier League outfit this is the perfect chance to move him on to get a big chunk of cash and put that towards building a squad ready for the top flight.
It will be a controversial decision considering just how good he has been this season under Farke, and there is no denying that some won’t like the decision. But for the good of the squad, and using the evidence of his career, it seems like the best thing to do.
In other Leeds news, one joustnalist has shared the chances of Connor Roberts signing permanently.
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