Sky Sports pundit impressed by ‘exciting’ Leeds United loanee Ian Poveda amid transfer news
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke did not make a mistake letting the “exciting” Ian Poveda depart on loan amid a transfer update, according to Paul Robinson.
The attacking midfielder, 24, departed Elland Road for Sheffield Wednesday on deadline day in the previous window and has impressed for the Owls, even though they still find themselves in the relegation zone.
It was reported by TEAMtalk on 13 March that Poveda has no way back at Leeds as his contract is up at the end of the season and will either sign for Wednesday permanently or join Birmingham City, who were also said to be interested in signing him in the winter window.
When asked by MOT Leeds News whether Leeds had made a mistake, former Whites keeper Robinson – now a prominent pundit for Sky Sports – was unequivocal in his support for Farke, even though he praised Poveda for making the most of his opportunity.
“I think he’s done excellently well at Sheffield Wednesday and he’s a player who needed to go out and get some game time,”
“I don’t think Leeds have made any mistakes with players they’ve let go this season and I think their league position, form and where they are it shows that.
“If he comes back and the manager thinks he’s got a place in the squad then he’s got a job to break into the squad. He’s a player who came to Leeds, looked exciting, very quick, very direct but he was a very young player and didn’t really get his opportunity in the Premier League and the manager didn’t see him fit to be part of his squad.
“You can’t question any decision that the manager’s made this season because they’re level on points with Leicester with a real opportunity to go as champions.
“So the players who are out on loan, you would argue the manager’s made the correct decision on every single one of them.
“Poveda’s gone out on loan and you look at him compared to other ones who are out on loan like Aaronson and players like that who haven’t performed on loan, Poveda has gone out on loan and used it to his own advantage.
“With him out of contract, he has to do that for his own career as well. Whether he has got a future at Leeds United or whether that’s elsewhere he had a big season this season and he’s taken the opportunity to go to Sheffield Wednesday with both hands.”
Will Leeds United loanee Ian Poveda join Sheffield Wednesday permanently?
It was a real tough spot that Poveda found himself in this season given the wealth of attacking talent Leeds have at their disposal.
Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto, Dan James, Jaidon Anthony, Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford are just some of the games ahead of him in the pecking order for attacking starts.
Throw in the likes of Mateo Joseph and Joe Gelhardt and, well, you can see why Poveda was keen to move on and make sure he could play for his future next season.
Whether that’s with Wednesday might depend on whether the Owls can beat the drop or not. If they don’t, then you would feel there will be plenty of Championship interest in his signature.
In other Leeds United news, Luke Ayling has sent a message to Dan James after what happened.
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