Laura Woods reacts as Agbonlahor promises to swim in Thames if Leeds relegate
Gabby Agbonlahor has vowed on air to swim in River Thames if Leeds United get relegated, and talkSPORT host Laura Woods could not believe it.
The Elland Road outfit moved clear of the drop zone after leaving it late to pick up four points in their last two games against Crystal Palace and Brentford, but things could get tougher in the coming weeks with clashes against Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool next.
Leeds have suffered fresh injuries, with Patrick Bamford likely to miss Saturday’s (11 December) trip to Stamford Bridge, while Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper have played their last games in 2021, and Agbonlahor reckons trouble could be looming.
He said on talkSPORT on Wednesday (8 December) (as shared on their Twitter account): “It took them that long to get back to the Premier League. Do they really want to be flirting with relegation?
“Their owners are trying to find money out of somewhere and bring in a number 10 that can make things happen on the ball. Another winger to help Raphinha for goals, another striker with Bamford picking up these injuries.
“They need to invest in January because after how long it took them to get back into the Premier League. They don’t want to go down again, do they?”
Woods then replied: “Just a quick one, what did you say if both clubs go down, if it was Leeds and Newcastle going down, you did tell us you would do something.”
The former Aston Villa star replied: “I’d do the butterfly stroke in the Thames.”
A stunned Woods replied: “In the Thames? Oh my goodness. Okay, fine, in that case, I kind of change my mind.”
Silly
Agbonlahor is not an admirer of the Yorkshire outfit, and he will be over the moon if they get relegated, but do not expect to see him in his swimming trunks on the banks of Thames if that happens, though.
Many pundits predicted the second-season syndrome for Marcelo Bielsa’s side heading into the 2021-22 campaign after they finished ninth last season, and things are not looking good right now.
Being without Bamford, Phillips and Cooper for the Chelsea game is a massive blow.
Their influential midfield powerhouse could be out for two months after he picked up a hamstring injury against Brentford on Sunday (5 December) [Telegraph], and Leeds will need to find a solution in the January transfer window.
Phillips missed the games against Southampton and Wolves earlier this season, and it was not surprising that the Whites picked up just a point from both games.
The Whites lost seven out of the nine Premier League games he missed in 2020-21, and Bielsa will be sweating over his fitness as a full-blown relegation battle could be on the cards.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have mapped out plans to avoid relegation scrap as Jan transfer budget claim emerges.