Don Goodman urges Leeds United to sell Junior Firpo as ideal replacement named
Don Goodman believes it makes sense for Leeds United to sell left-back Junior Firpo this summer and bring in a cheaper alternative.
The big-money signing from Barcelona in July 2021 has not truly hit the heights expected at Elland Road and is out of contract next year.
While Goodman was impressed by Firpo in 2023-24, he believes there are alternatives out there for Leeds to consider – one such player being Peterborough United’s Harrison Burrows.
“He cost a lot of money and so for me it would make sense to pull some money in if you can,” Goodman told MOT Leeds News. “I’m sure Leeds United have irons in the fire in every single position.
“You only have to look at Ipswich Town nicking Leif Davis from them – there are nuggets out there, bits of quality. For example, there’s Peterborough left-back Harrison Burrows, plus others in League One that you can cherry-pick.
“There’s the possibility of a loan signing from the Premier League also in the left-back position. So while he had a very good season last time out, there are alternatives out there for Junior Firpo.
“He’d potentially be a player that if you can bring money in and replace for less wages and outlay in terms of a transfer fee, then it’s a real possibility.
“I always think it’s preferable when a player is in the final year, or even final two years of their contracts, that they are tied down for longer to retain their value or sold. With respect to Junior Firpo, he wouldn’t be one you consider a key player for Leeds United’s success going forward.”
Leeds United have big Junior Firpo summer transfer decision to make
Having already lost last season’s right-back in Archie Gray, as well as other defenders, Leeds could do without disruption on the opposite flank.
However, it seems pretty clear that Firpo will not sign a new deal at Elland Road – even if the club wanted him to – and so a big decision has to be made.
Firpo, who cost £12.8million from Barcelona [Sky Sports], is also likely to miss the start of the 2024-25 campaign due to Olympics duty, so the reasons for his sale outweigh those for the club keeping him.
All this is dependent on a couple of factors, though. Leeds need to find a club willing to pay, say, £5million or more, and they need to make sure there is a replacement out there.
While the name of Burrows will hardly set Leeds fans into a frenzy, he has been superb in League One and can make the step up – much in the same way that Davis did at Ipswich.
Leeds need to be smart this summer in terms of balancing the books, and it may well be that selling Firpo and finding a cheaper alternative makes perfect sense.
In other Leeds United news, Goodman has issued some advice over the possible sale of a midfielder at Elland Road.
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