Micah Richards rages at Leeds United planning after Georginio Rutter £36m signing in January
Micah Richards has blasted Leeds United for spending up to £36m on Georginio Rutter in January and then leaving him on the bench in their relegation scrap.
The Whites spent a club-record amount on the France youth international in January, but Rutter has failed to register a goal or assist so far and has started just once in the Premier League.
With Leeds sitting one point above the relegation zone with six games remaining, Richards told BBC Sport’s “The Monday Night Club” (24 April) that he doesn’t understand what the club’s plan was for the 21-year-old.
“Rutter signed for a lot of money and he’s not even getting a kick,” he said.
“You sign a 21-year-old to almost stand in for or replace Bamford and he’s not played. When you talk about a plan, I do not understand what the plan was.
“Surely if you are spending that sort of money, you get someone ready-made or on loan to see you out to the end of the season, then you go again.
“If they go to the Championship, God knows how long it will take them to get back.”
Ridiculous
There were plenty of question marks about the fee to sign Rutter in January at the time, but it seemed to be part of a long-term project at the club.
But the club sacked Jesse Marsch so quickly after the window closed and Rutter has been tossed to the side almost immediately by Javi Gracia and seems to not really be in the plans.
Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo have been preferred in the number nine role while Crysencio Summerville, Brendan Aaronson, Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra and Wilfried Gnonto have been preferred in the wide positions.
Yet the club is right on the verge of relegation and we won’t call upon our record signing to save us and pull us out of the fire? It’s bizarre.
There is no long-term plan there and it seems like a disaster waiting to happen in the future too, so Richards is spot on to question the board for their planning.
In other Leeds news, scouts were present to watch this 20-goal striker play last week ahead of a summer move.