Leeds open talks for loan-to-buy player exit as Bielsa greenlights deal – Mike McGrath
Leeds United have opened talks over selling left-back Barry Douglas to Championship side Blackburn, according to Telegraph journalist Mike McGrath.
Writing in his latest transfer notebook, McGrath reported that Marcelo Bielsa has greenlighted a deal for Douglas, 31, to leave Elland Road as long as a good deal can be agreed with Rovers.
It is understood that Leeds and Blackburn are discussing the structure of a potential deal and whether or not Douglas will head to Ewood Park on an initial loan.
However, Douglas is in the final year of his contract in West Yorkshire so if he leaves on loan before the EFL transfer deadline on Friday, there’s a chance he will be lost on a free transfer next summer.
Leeds can combat by getting Douglas to sign a contract extension to ensure they receive a fee for him next summer.
We can see Douglas considering a new contract but as he’s 31-years-old and struggling to get game-time at Elland Road, there’s a chance he won’t want to tie himself down to an extra year at the club.
Douglas started just six Championship matches for Leeds last season as they won the title and promotion to the Premier League.
He’s since failed to make any of Bielsa’s matchday squads in the top-flight and failed to impress in Leeds’ Carabao Cup defeat to Hull, which remains his only appearance this season.
Douglas has never really hit the heights that were expected of him when Bielsa signed him from Wolves in 2018.
Let’s hope that if he does join Blackburn, he can play a lot more than he has done for the Argentine and play a key role in Rovers’ bid to return to the Premier League.
In other Leeds United news, this young striker has found a new club after leaving the Whites in the summer.