Leeds United: Helder Costa exit may now be days away as Daniel Farke makes first-team decision
Leeds United forward Helder Costa may now just be days away from finally sealing his Elland Road exit another 11 days to go in the Qatari transfer window.
The Angolan international, who spent last season on loan with Al-Ittihad has informed Leeds boss Daniel Farke that he wants to leave the club [LeedsLive, 7 September] with the Whites also desiring the same outcome [Phil Hay, August 18].
Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth reported on 1 September that Costa could yet seal his move away from the club after the transfer window passes but is still yet to find a new club.
Although the Saudi transfer market closes on Thursday 7 September, the Qatari window is still open for business until 18 September which leaves Costa with over a week to seal his expected exit joining several first-team stars such as Luis Sinisterra, Marc Roca, Tyler Adams and Max Wober to have sought pastures new this summer.
Costa joined the ranks at Elland Road in a £15m switch from Wolves in 2020 [Transfermarkt] having spent the season before on loan with Marcelo Bielsa’s side, but hasn’t settled permanently in Yorkshire spending time on loan with both Valencia and Al-Ittihad.
LeedsLive reported on 7 September that Farke doesn’t see the Angolan as part of his first-team plans at Elland Road this season and that has been abundantly clear for a long while now, with Costa failing to establish himself at the club ever since Bielsa’s tenure.
There doesn’t appear to have been much interest in the Algolan, though, after he scored just three goals in 18 appearances while on loan in the Saudi Pro League last season.
However, Costa certainly knows his time is up in West Yorkshire which means both him and his representatives will be working hours on end to seal any kind of move.
Also, with just a year remaining on his current contract at Elland Road, it won’t be a surprise to see the club come to a mutual agreement to end his contract should he fail to seal his move in the coming days.
The Whites are blessed with wide options this season, having kept the likes of Wilfried Gnonto and Crycensio Summerville despite plenty of interest in the summer transfer window, so it would take a huge amount of injuries before Farke even considered possibly picking Costa this season but even that looks very uncertain right now.
With a crucial Championship campaign on the horizon for the German and his men, they simply cannot afford to have players who aren’t in the right frame of mind to compete or have the heads on potential exits in the squad as it could completely derail morale.
It is why Costa must be given his inevitable exit route and if that can’t be secured in the next eleven days, Leeds United must simply drag him out by terminating his contract. It’s the best move for all parties involved.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites tabled multiple enquiries to sign a multi-million international winger ahead of the transfer deadline.