‘Increasingly unlikely’ – Exclusive: Whites journalist shares gut feeling over JKA Leeds future
MOT Leeds News conducted an exclusive interview with Leeds Live journalist Beren Cross, getting his views on the biggest talking points from Elland Road…
Beren Cross has said he thinks it is “increasing unlikely” that Jean-Kevin Augustin will stick around at Leeds United past June with his loan deal expiring on Tuesday.
As for signing him on a permanent deal, Cross said Leeds would be “damned if they do sign him and damned if they don’t” but hinted that a move could still happen.
The Leeds Live journalist told MOT Leeds News said the Whites could trust in their scouting department that the 23-year-old can play a part in the Premier League next season should promotion be sealed.
Augustin is currently suffering from his second injury at the club and has only played 49 minutes of Championship action since arriving.
Cross believes that Leeds could give him the benefit of the doubt, as well as a full pre-season under Marcelo Bielsa to prove himself.
Talking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Cross said, “It looks increasingly unlikely Augustin will stick around for the final eight matches with his current loan expiring on June 30.
“However, the club does still have the time to make that decision. Bielsa’s most recent comment was non-commital on Augustin’s chances of an appearance before we finish, but he did not suggest the Frenchman would be departing imminently.
“It’s a tough call with the percentage of his wages they will be paying weighed up against how little football he’s played, plus his inadequate fitness.
“I don’t believe there is anything United can do ‘to be sure’ buying Augustin is the right thing to do. Nobody can predict the future, so they will be damned if they do sign him and damned if they don’t.
“It’s hard to see him delivering anything so good in the final eight matches, so they have to trust in their scouting and trust in his career history if they decide to invest in him, give him the benefit of the doubt and a full pre-season under Bielsa.
“The pre-season is the key element in any success under Bielsa and, through no fault of his own, Augustin hasn’t had that yet.”
Leeds currently have Patrick Bamford and Tyler Roberts as two strikers available to them for the Championship run-in.
Should one of those options pick up an injury with five or more games to play, Leeds would be very limited in the final third.
With Roberts replacing Pablo Hernandez recently, Bielsa has been left with no strikers on the bench – something Augustin could help with his return to fitness in July.
In other Leeds United news, the referee has been confirmed for the Luton clash & he has officiated a Whites defeat this season