MOT View: Pre-agreed Leeds permanent exit for 23-year-old bound to cut losses
Leeds United are bound to cut their losses on Conor Shaughnessy in the summer after pre-agreeing a deal for him to exit the club permanently in the summer.
Shaughnessy, 23, spent the first half of this season on loan at Mansfield in League Two but after impressing in the fourth-tier, he took the step up to League One when he joined Burton Albion on loan.
Burton confirmed when they signed Shaughnessy that his temporary switch to Staffordshire was with the view to a permanent move at the end of the season.
Shaughnessy’s contract at Leeds expires at the end of next season so deciding to try and cash in on him this summer should cut the club’s losses.
It is not clear how much Burton will pay for the former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, who can play in the defence and midfield, but not having him on the wage bill for another season is better than keeping him on, only to release him on a free transfer in 2021.
Shaughnessy impressed at Mansfield but has struggled since joining Burton in League One.
The loaned-out Leeds player made eight appearances for the Brewers before the coronavirus-enforced suspension of football in England.
Stats by WyScout show that he had a pass accuracy of 73 per cent in his appearances for Burton, compared to 79.6 per cent at Mansfield in the first half of the season.
Shaughnessy has also lost the ball more times on average per 90 minutes at Burton compared to his time at Mansfield, as well as his average number of passes and dribbles.
Shaughnessy has struggled to make the step up to League One and clearly would struggle to ever make a name for himself at Leeds – a club that could be in the Premier League by the time his loan spell at Burton ends.
He turns 24 in June and by that point, you would expect him to be getting closer to the first-team at Elland Road but, unfortunately, that hasn’t happened for him.
Shaughnessy’s pre-agreed permanent exit is a good call by the club.
In other Leeds United news, this loan star has confirmed he wants to stay at Leeds next season.