MOT View: Leeds fans bound to groan over latest report in pursuit of £10k-a-wk PL player
It almost seemed too good to be true when Leeds United were linked with a January move for Sheffield United midfielder Luke Freeman at the weekend.
The Sun on Sunday claimed [print edition, page 61] that the Whites were plotting a “shock” move to sign the 27-year-old, who has struggled to impress since his £5million switch from QPR to Bramall Lane in the summer.
It was reported that both Leeds and their Yorkshire rivals would be keen on striking a deal before the end of the month and a section of fans on Twitter were thrilled with the news.
Freeman may have struggled at Sheffield United but he is a proven operator in the Championship.
Last season, at QPR, he scored nine goals and supplied eight assists in 48 appearances across all competitions before his £5million move to Bramall Lane made him what was then the most-expensive history in the Blades’ history.
Leeds need one or two new central midfielders as well as some added depth on the wing and Freeman is someone who can play out wide, in the centre of the midfield or as an attacking midfielder.
Basically, he ticks all the boxes and it is understandable why so many fans on Twitter were drooling over the prospect of signing the £10,000-a-week [Spotrac] Blades midfielder.
However a new update by Football Insider reports that Chris Wilder has no interest in letting Freeman leave Bramall Lane this month and that is likely to mean Leeds’ pursuit of the midfielder will reach a dead end.
It is understood that the Whites wanted to land him on a loan deal this month but Wilder’s reluctance to let that happen suggests he sees the player as someone who can still play a role this season.
Sheffield United are performing well above expectations in the Premier League but Freeman has only made nine top-flight appearances for the South Yorkshire side.
He started on Sunday in the FA Cup win against FyLeelde and that may be why Wilder wants to keep him on, for games like that.
It is a shame for Leeds and their fans because Freeman could have been a really good signing for the second half of the campaign.
Unfortunately, he is someone who Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta might have to cross off their shortlist for this month.
In other Leeds United news, this Leeds defender has admitted it was a “difficult” decision to sign for the Yorkshire side.