By Daniel Feliciano

31st May, 2023 | 7:40pm

Georginio Rutter could leave Leeds United on loan this summer - Graham Smyth

Leeds United’s record-signing Georginio Rutter could leave the club on loan this summer after they were relegated to the Championship, according to Graham Smyth.

The Whites splashed a club-record £35.5m on the French youth international in January but he barely featured under Javi Gracia or Sam Allardyce in the run-in, making just one start in the Premier League since his arrival.

But according to the Yorkshire Evening Post the 21-year-old could leave on loan in order to rediscover his form away from the Championship, after such a large fee was spent to bring him in.

“What a few months it has been for the youngster, a terrible few months undoubtedly,” they wrote (31 May).

“He’s still a high potential player so if Leeds can convince him that happier times lay ahead, he could be a big asset in the Championship in the right role and system.

“If not, a loan to allow him to rediscover form and price tag would seem sensible.”

Mental

This is without a doubt one of the craziest transfers in the club’s history, with a record amount of cash splashed on someone we didn’t trust in any way.

Now that we’re heading down to the Championship, it would seem like the perfect time for him to finally step up and put the club on his back as our record signing to get us back to where we want to be.

But instead a loan move is being considered to let him go elsewhere and help another team who would only pay a fraction of his wages in another league.

If he leaves this summer it would be quite clear that Rutter has no future at Elland Road and it would simply be a way to set up a transfer for another transfer window to try and recoup some money.

This deal has been a disaster from the start and it looks like it’s only going one way from now on following the club’s relegation.

In other Leeds news, “Pretty good chance” this ace leaves Elland Road this summer.