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MOT View: Leeds transfer report could suggest £35,000-a-wk player exit is on the cards
Leeds United have the option to sign Jean-Kevin Augustin on a permanent basis from RB Leipzig once his loan deal ends but the chances of that happening appear slim.
Since joining the Whites in January, Augustin has failed to start a single match and appeared just three times off the bench before an injury and the coronavirus pandemic paused his season.
The 22-year-old forward has struggled with his fitness, failed to do much of note in his three substitute appearances and has failed to take Patrick Bamford’s spot in Marcelo Bielsa’s starting line-up.
According to Football Insider, Leeds are committed to paying £20million to sign Augustin permanently if they go up after agreeing to pay his £35,000-a-week wages throughout the duration of his loan.
However, The Athletic journalist Phil Hay has cast doubt over the deal happening, even if Leeds go up, because there is always the possibility of the player not wanting to move too.
Right now, would Augustin agree to sign permanently for a club in the Premier League after struggling to start for them in the Championship? There’s a chance he might not want to.
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And Leeds appear to be planning for that eventuality with Le Quotidien du Foot reporting that Metz forward Habib Diallo is interesting the Yorkshire giants.
Diallo, 24, has been in good form for Metz this season, scoring 12 goals in 26 Ligue 1 appearances.
It is understood that he’s valued at £17.9million, a similar price that Leeds would have to pay for Augustin.
Is it possible that Leeds have lined up Diallo in case Augustin does not sign for them?
The Whites can forget about paying so much for either Augustin or Diallo if they do not win promotion from the Championship but comparing the two, one of them struggled in Ligue 1 this season while the other has flourished.
In other Leeds United news, a data expert has predicted the chance of Leeds winning promotion and the Championship title.