Leeds United to make two summer signings amid Junior Firpo exit reports
Leeds United could look to sign two full-backs this summer amid reports Junior Firpo could still be sold, according to Paul Robinson.
After struggling with injury at the start of the campaign, the 27-year-old full-back has enjoyed a run in the team at left-back and has impressed as Leeds have moved top of the Championship.
However, it was reported by the Athletic writer Phil Hay on 12 March that Firpo is unlikely to receive a new contract offer on a deal that runs until June 2025 and that offers may be invited for him this summer.
Former Whites keeper Robinson, speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, thinks Firpo might have found his level after a series of “mishaps” in the Premier League and that full-back is an area Daniel Farke will want to improve should his side get promoted.
“I think it’s a difficult one for both sides because he really struggled in the Premier League and I, like others, was criticial of him because of his defensive mishaps, I think he was susceptible for a lot of the goals and teams targeted that left-hand side.” Robinson said.
“I think in the Championship and the system Daniel Farke plays I think he’s done well this season. I think defensively he’s still got mistakes in him, I think he can be got at defensively.
“Going forward I don’t think there’s ever been a problem with him, going down that left-hand side he puts some great deliveries into the box and attacking wise he’s very good.
“This season he’s been a lot better than he was last season, so the problem they’ve got is, that some players actually find their level. In the Premier League players get released and eyebrows are raised when Premier League players get sold into the Championship and players excel.
“But sometimes players find their level and you wonder if that’s his level and he’s found his ceiling. The Premier League season wasn’t a great season for him but it’ll be interesting to see what the manager thinks of him because he’ll be the one to inevitably make a decision on him.
“The full-back areas is one he’s looked to strengthen, Archie Gray has done fantastically well at right-back but I still think his best position is that holding midfield area.
“Full-back is somewhere he will want to look at if Leeds go back to the Premier League because Junior Firpo’s proved he’s susceptible in the Premier League and I think he’d probably prefer to play Archie Gray in midfield in the Premier League, so it might be a double full-back area he looks at in the summer.”
Will Junior Firpo leave Leeds United this summer?
There is no doubt that Firpo has certainly improved a lot this season but you have to weigh that up with the fact that he is playing in the Championship, so the level isn’t quite as high as where he was at last season.
Before this run in the team, you would have struggled to find many Leeds supporters making a case for him to remain at Elland Road and most would have been absolutely fine with him leaving in the January window.
Of course, he has now established himself in the first XI and Leeds are on a magnificent run that has seen them climb to the top of the table and Firpo has definitely played his part in that success.
But the fact it is being reported that Firpo is unlikely to get a new contract means that a summer sale might be the best for everyone involved and Farke can look to address what has been a problem position traditionally in recent seasons.
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