Carlton Palmer rules out Eddie Nketiah return to Leeds United
Eddie Nketiah’s potential return to Leeds United this January is ‘never going to happen’, according to ex-striker and pundit Carlton Palmer.
The Arsenal striker has been linked with a move away from the Emirates this winter, after rejecting a new contract [Sky Sports] and entering the final six months of his current deal.
With Leeds desperately needing goals, there had been some suggestions [TMW] that they could go back in for the striker they had for six months on loan in the Championship.
The Athletic’s Phil Hay dismissed those rumours, claiming Leeds had ‘no intention’ of joining the chase for him and now Carlton Palmer has told GiveMeSport the same.
He said: “It’s never going to happen.
“He went there on a season-long loan and between the club and the player, they decided to send him back after six months. He was unhappy about his lack of first-team football.”
Could be worse
While it’s hard to argue with Palmer’s logic, there are a lot worse options out there than Nketiah that would help the club score more goals.
Nketiah got a hat-trick for Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Sunderland but has been limited in his first-team appearances this season.
He is the record goalscorer for the England U21’s and with a regular run of game time, it’s clear that he is capable of delivering goals. Mikel Arteta once described him as ‘extraordinary‘ too, which shows how highly rated he is.
His first spell at Elland Road clearly didn’t work out for whatever reason, but Patrick Bamford has struggled for fitness this season and Nketiah would be able to get a run in the lineup to show if he has improved since then.
Leeds need goals, having scored only 21 goals in 19 games so far this season, and Nketiah provides them. It may be a situation that needs reviewing as the month progresses.
In other Leeds news, Club owners warn that 20-goal Leeds-linked star not for sale in January – Sky Sports