Leeds United told they may regret Leo Hjelde to Sunderland transfer decision
LeedsLive journalist Beren Cross has claimed Leeds United could regret their decision to let “huge potential” Leo Hjelde join Sunderland in January.
Hjelde sealed his move to Sunderland yesterday, as announced on the Black Cats’ official website, for a fee of £2million [Fabrizio Romano, 29 January], of which 15% will be owed to Celtic as a result of the clause in his Leeds deal.
Having been made surplus to requirements at Elland Road, and spending the majority of this season with the Under-21 side, the chance to join a promotion-chasing team was one the defender couldn’t turn down.
Cross was speaking to The Northern Echo [31 January] as he shared: “Hjelde was effectively surplus to requirements at Leeds. There were no complaints when Farke returned him to the under-21s and went in another direction.
“Hjelde’s very versatile. He’s probably best as a left-sided centre-back, but he most frequently filled in at left-back for Leeds. He’s tall, strong and a hard worker with those solid Scandinavian foundations that work so well in English football.
“It could prove to be one Leeds regret. He’s only 20 and he seems to have huge potential with the right time and coaching.”
Simply not good enough
Hjelde started the opening day of this Championship season as Leeds’ first-choice left-back in the absence of Junior Firpo but has not played a single minute in the league since that opening day game against Cardiff.
The arrival of Sam Byram put another nail in his coffin, pushing him further down the pecking order, and he was quickly relegated to the Under-21 side, making just two Carabao Cup appearances for the senior side since the Cardiff clash.
No opportunities were likely to arrive at Leeds, either at left-back or centre-back, so letting him leave made sense after he failed to live up to the lofty expectations and potential that some still expect him to reach despite a lack of first-team experience.
So yes, Leeds could come to regret the decision. Especially with Hjelde having joined a direct rival in the race for promotion this season, but overall with this deal, there were more whys than why-nots for Daniel Farke when weighing up the options.
In other Leeds United news, the boss is pushing for another new arrival.
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