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Journalist slams 49ers and Daniel Farke for Leeds United oversight in Sam Greenwood decision
William Jackson has slammed Leeds United owners 49ers Enterprises and Daniel Farke for their “oversight” in allowing Sam Greenwood to depart Elland Road.
The 21-year-old has been in inspired form for Middlesborough since joining Michael Carrick’s side on loan, scoring four times this season, including three strikes in his last four matches for the Whites’ promotion rivals.
Middlesborough have the opportunity to make the deal permanent for £1.5 million next summer, the same fee the Whites paid to acquire him from Arsenal in 2020 and Leeds Live reporter Jackson believes the 49ers and Farke may come to “regret” their decision.
Writing for Leeds Live (16 November) he said: “Leeds might already be regretting that decision, though, with his form making that summer 2024 move appear to be something of a no-brainer for Boro. On current form, it’s hard to see a way in which he is allowed to return to Leeds in the summer to continue his career at Elland Road.
“While he has struggled to show such consistent form in a Leeds shirt since breaking through into the senior side, the clause looks to be a mistake by the Whites.
“The 49ers, Nick Hammond, Gretar Steinsson and Daniel Farke have done a tremendous job since their respective arrivals in the summer with recruitment and transfers and they boast a rather impressive hit rate.
“But, the Greenwood decision looks to be an oversight and one they could prove to regret.”
One to forget
On the face of it, this loan deal seems to have seen Leeds United lend an incredibly talented attacking midfielder to a potential promotion rival for the season, when they themselves are arguably short of talent in that same number 10 position.
Joel Piroe has featured in that attacking midfield role since arriving at Elland Road, but some supporters still believe he would be better utilised as an out-and-out striker. That switch would have left a Greenwood-shaped hole in Farke’s team.
It’s hard to be too critical of the 49ers and Farke’s transfer decisions since arriving in Yorkshire, the German and the new owners have rebuilt a team over the summer which is more than capable of winning promotion to the Premier League after a mass exodus.
To only make one “oversight” in a summer that saw countless players arrive and depart Leeds is by no means a bad hit record, but this potential sale feels like an incredibly naive and potentially costly mistake on the Whites’ part.
In other Leeds United news, one journalist has tipped Mateo Joseph to join up with a familiar face on loan this January