Leeds United receive ‘surprise’ Junior Firpo offer amid ‘longstanding animosity’ after transfer rival withdraws from race
Galatasaray have made a “surprise” loan-to-buy offer to Leeds United for Junior Firpo after Marseille dropped out of the race, according to Fotospor.
The left-back is expected to move on this summer following relegation, having never really settled at Elland Road in his two seasons since arriving from Barcelona.
His performances at times made him a lightning rod for criticism from supporters, and as such the latest report notes there is a “longstanding animosity” towards the 26-year-old.
Fabrizio Romano reported via Twitter on 7 June that Firpo would leave, with “several” European clubs said to be “keen”.
One of those had apparently been Ligue 1’s Marseille, but according to Fotospor the French side “withdrew” from the race, which opened the door to Turkish giants Galatasaray to make a move despite the Leeds United man not being their top choice.
An offer has been sent to Elland Road to take Firpo to Istanbul on loan with an option to make the move permanent.
The Whites are reportedly open to a loan since they will owe Barcelona 20% of the fee if he is sold.
Inevitable
Even if Leeds United had managed to escape relegation for the second season in a row it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see Firpo leave.
There have been some outings where he has looked like the player he was always supposed to be upon arrival from the Camp Nou.
But other high-profile matches where his defending was disastrous drew a lot of attention, even in a Whites back line where that sort of thing was far from unheard of.
He may just be a player who is unsuited to the Premier League, or it could be that the general malaise that took hold at Elland Road, particularly in defence, effected him as much as anyone.
Contracting Covid-19 during his first season in England, as the wheels fell off the Marcelo Bielsa era, weren’t ideal circumstances to flourish and the Whites never really recovered from the Argentine’s sacking,
So with the outgoing loan deals now starting to add up it makes plenty of sense that Firpo joins that list, whether it be in Turkey or elsewhere.
In other Leeds United news, a Thorp Arch fitness update has emerged on a key exit-linked pair as a Whites stay is eyed for both.