Leeds United: Sky Sports pundit reacts to £21m-plus Luis Sinisterra transfer news at Bournemouth
Leeds United haven’t missed Luis Sinisterra thanks to the form of the wingers at Elland Road so can probably afford to let him leave permanently, according to Paul Robinson.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported on Transfer Deadline Day (1 February) that the Whites are in talks with Bournemouth over a £21million-plus transfer for the Colombian winger, who is already on loan at the Premier League side.
The deal could therefore go through within the next few weeks since it isn’t constrained by the window, and while Robinson suggests that if the Whites get promoted under Daniel Farke there might be consideration around bringing him back the team hasn’t been lacking his influence.
Sinisterra left in controversial circumstances to the Vitality at the very end of the summer market, upsetting Angus Kinnear and plenty of fans on the way [Square Ball, 7 September], and Sky Sports pundit Robinson feels Leeds United have enough without him in Crysencio Summerville, Dan James and Willy Gnonto.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News he said: “I think he’s done well at Bournemouth when he’s been given an opportunity, him and [Justin] Kluivert in behind the main striker, I think he’s done really well.
“It’s a move that he’s adapted to, and the biggest thing from a Leeds point of view is they haven’t missed him.
“You look at the Leeds side, at Gnonto, at Summerville, the way Gnonto’s playing at the minute with two goals in his last two games.
“The way they are playing this year means the biggest thing from a Leeds point of view is, yes they’ve allowed [Sinisterra] to go out on loan with a view to a permanent, should they be in the Premier League like most of us Leeds people hope that they are [next season], not non-Leeds fans obviously, then there might be a conversation about, ‘Is there room in the squad for him?’
“When you look at the players Leeds have got in those areas, in Summerville, James and Gnonto then do Leeds actually need him?
“They’ve proved this season that they haven’t really missed him, truth be known.”
Leeds United safe to let Sinisterra complete permanent Bournemouth move
The former Feyenoord winger showed he was of Premier League quality for the Whites last season when he wasn’t injured so would likely be an asset, if he could stay fit, for the top flight next term.
He leaves either way if Farke can’t get this side promoted given how he had no intention of remaining in the second tier last summer, and the manner of that exit might make the money worth more than the headache of bringing him back even if Leeds do go up.
So a decent fee, and potentially even a profit on the £22.3m they paid 18 months ago [Guardian], would likely be a satisfactory outcome given those behind him in the pecking order have stepped up hugely in his absence.
In other Leeds United news, a permanent signing has still not shown any signs of making a breakthrough says Phil Hay.
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