Sam Greenwood £1.5m transfer doubted after Leeds United made to look ‘foolish’ by on-loan Middlesbrough ace
Sam Greenwood could yet return to Leeds United amid doubts Middlesbrough will be able to complete a permanent signing after a successful loan move, according to Carlton Palmer.
The pundit told Football League World on 14 November that there is a belief that the Whites have been made to look “foolish” for letting the 21-year-old leave for the Riverside, with just a £1.5million fee due to sign him permanently, but defended the deal since there would not have been starts on offer at Elland Road.
Phil Hay of The Athletic has suggested that it is becoming increasingly likely that Boro do indeed buy Greenwood after a run of four goals in six Championship games, including the winner against leaders Leicester on 11 November, but Palmer believes he could yet return to Yorkshire and current developments are “exactly” what the Whites would want.
Palmer said: “Some believe that Leeds are looking foolish over Sam Greenwood. Sam would not have started at Leeds United and needed to go out on loan and play. The fact he’s doing well is exactly what Leeds United would have hoped for.
“Middlesbrough have experience taking players on loan previously and bringing those players on and have found themselves not in a position where they’re able to sign the players.
“Cameron Archer is a classic example so they’ve done it right to get a loan deal with an option to buy.
“This does not mean the player will sign for Middlesbrough, he could end up going back to his parent club Leeds United where he’s contracted until the summer of 2026.
“If the manager of Leeds gives him reasons to believe he will get game time and they’re back in the Premier League, he could still go back to Leeds United.”
Ship sailed
On current form the option fee for Greenwood is a steal and if he does end up back at Leeds United it will surely mean something has gone badly wrong for him or Middlesbrough between now and then.
Even before he became a regular in the North East this season and started scoring regularly it could easily be argued that the price was too low, and the Whites hierarchy might be regretting it now.
At 21, with plenty of potential to still improve, and decent Premier League experience, it isn’t often that players like that are available for so little, especially with a try-before-you-buy loan involved.
His development was probably starting to stagnate at Leeds United after last year’s chaos saw him come in and out of the side sporadically and at different positions.
Daniel Farke might like the idea of having him as an option at number 10 now that he has shown what he can do at the Riverside, but the chances of him ever getting that opportunity now seem slim.
For a more sizeable fee there would be the potential risk to Boro that he wouldn’t be affordable in the summer, but it certainly looks like the Whites expected him to not return with such a reasonable price tied in.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are “not happy” to be snubbed as another permanent exit is set to go through.