Helder Costa still has chance to quit Elland Road for good despite Saudi Arabian transfer window closing
Helder Costa could still find his way out of Leeds United this summer despite the Saudi Arabian transfer window coming to a close.
Costa was away on international duty with Anglola when the Saudi window closed after 7 September, ending any hope of a reported move to the Middle East.
But perhaps the Middle East still beckons for the £15million flop. With the Qatari transfer window still open until 18 September, the 29-year-old could still depart Elland Road following a poor stint in Yorkshire.
Costa is likely to have been vying for a move ever since Leeds’relegation was confirmed, while Daniel Farke and the club’s hierarchy shared his view that his time was up, leading to the Angolan training alone at Thorp Arch during the transfer window, and now training with the youth side.
“So, more or less, from the beginning of pre-season he was not in our plans”, Farke said, as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post (7 September).”We were not in his plan so it’s fair to think there will be a solution.”
It is no wonder Costa was not in Farke’s plans, and he most likely wouldn’t have been in his plans regardless of Costa’s clear desire to depart.
He has spent a significant time of his Leeds contract away from Elland Road on unsuccessful loans to La Liga side Valencia and Saudi side Al-Ittihad, so fans hardly got the chance to miss him after his decent debut season while on loan to Leeds from Wolves.
But no matter what, Costa will not be a Leeds player for long. YEP journalist Graham Smyth reported (7 September) that Leeds would “come to terms with Costa on a severance deal that will make him a free agent” – ending his four-year relationship with the club.
Clearly, Leeds sees no value in keeping him and they have struggled to sell him. Phil Hay said it best on the Square Ball Podcast (18 August, 5m 30s): “Helder Costa is totally different – he wants to leave and the club want him to leave. Nobody is bothered about Costa particularly.”
Damning for Costa, but at least both parties are on the same page, unlike Willy Gnonto’s escalating situation during the transfer window.
But Costa still has options on the table for a transfer. Not only is the Qatari window still open, but Turkey and Russia remain viable options for Costa, but only if a bid comes through.
However, if Leeds does agree to a severance package with Costa to make him a free agent and other clubs know about it, then they would be foolish to pay a fee for him when they can wait a few days and get him on a free.
In other Leeds United news, Angus Kinnear has slammed two former Elland Road stars after their summer exit tactics.