Middlesbrough chief confirms Sam Greenwood transfer depends on Leeds United success
Middlesbrough head of football Kieran Scott has shared that a permanent move for Sam Greenwood will depend on whether Leeds United get promoted this season.
Despite the clubs having agreed to a £1.5million optional future fee for the forward, Scott claims that promotion for Leeds would see Greenwood receive a significant wage increase which could put him out of reach.
Scott went on to assure Middlesbrough fans that the club will do their best to secure the deal regardless of the situation, but it will ultimately be up to the player and his representatives.
“I won’t bore people. It’s a difficult one,” said Scott to BBC Radio Tees [21 November], “At the minute he is still a Leeds player and I have to be respectful.
“He’s on loan with an option, I’ll leave it at that. The only slight issue that could come is if Leeds were promoted, being totally transparent so everyone has the full picture.
“If Leeds were to be promoted, we all know what comes with that, when teams get promoted players do better for themselves. I’m sure Sam is one of those and that is an issue that is there.
“We’d work with Sam and his representatives in that position if that was what the club wanted to do, but it’s a difficult scenario. There are things to work through but Sam has shown he can be a key component for us.
“The club-to-club side is dealt with, it would be about agreeing on other things. Believe me, we will do our best.”
A move may not happen
It feels as if it has been considered a foregone conclusion for a while that Greenwood would leave Elland Road for good at the end of this season by securing the permanent move to Teesside, but these quotes have clouded the situation.
By all means, Greenwood could still agree to a permanent move away regardless of Leeds’ promotion or a possible wage hike, but it would make his position stronger if he wanted to demand a higher wage for a permanent move.
As Scott says, the initial stages of the deal have already been agreed between the clubs, so there should be no issues on that front should they decide to make his move permanent. It will all come down to Greenwood and his representatives.
Whatever happens this season, it appears Greenwood no longer has a future at Elland Road, so a permanent exit could be on the cards even if it’s not to Boro.
In other Leeds United news, Andrea Radrizzani has opened up on “mistakes” he made at Leeds.