Phil Hay shares Daniel Farke’s ‘Biggest Issue’ with Djed Spence as Leeds United transfer decision made
Phil Hay has revealed what Daniel Farke’s driving force behind sending Djed Spence back to Tottenham from Leeds United was.
Speaking on The Square Ball podcast (12 January), the reliable journalist reports that the right-back didn’t show the required levels of work rate in training or games and there was also an issue with lateness.
All together it made Farke come to the decision that Leeds were better off cutting his loan spell short this month, with a new full-back now top of the priority list for the transfer window.
“The biggest issue for Farke was I think the performance levels,” he said.
“They weren’t quite right, they just weren’t what he was looking for. But there were issues with lateness as well and things like that.
“It was one of those situations where in the end it made more sense for Leeds to send him back because it just wasn’t working for them.
“They are [looking for transfers],” he said. “My impression was that they always would be active this month, irrespective of what happened with Spence and knowing there was a chance that Ayling could go.
“My understanding is that they still are.”
No shock
It has long been mentioned that Spence has got attitude problems and that his success in the professional game will depend on his off-field antics.
There’s no doubting that at his best he is a fantastic right-back and has the ability to play for any of the top teams, especially with the way he gets forward.
However Farke has been clear from day one that there is more to being in his good books than playing well, and professionalism off the pitch is high up on that list.
The way he dealt with Wilfried Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra in the summer spoke volumes about the standards he has set for the squad and for everyone involved, and Spence clearly fell short of those standards.
As much as it was a shock, it seems like it was the right decision for the wider group to let Spence go but now the board have to ensure the team isn’t left short after allowing Ayling to move to Middlesbrough too.
In other Leeds news, Phil Hay shares how Leeds loanee had contract hopes dashed at Elland Road.