‘Popular’ Leeds player will secure Elland Rd exit before next Friday – Phil Hay
The clock is ticking on Barry Douglas’ career at Leeds United after being left out of the draw against Manchester City on Saturday, according to The Athletic’s Phil Hay.
Douglas, 31, has not made any of Marcelo Bielsa’s matchday squads in the Premier League this season and started just six times in the Championship last term as the Whites won promotion.
The former Wolves left-back is well down the pecking order and Leif Davis’ inclusion in the squad against Man City suggests to ex-Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Hay that he’s now on borrowed time at Elland Road.
“I think there is a lot of appreciation of Douglas’ input in the dressing room. He’s a popular guy at Thorp Arch who a lot of people like but he isn’t playing,” said Hay on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show podcast.
“On Saturday, to see Leif Davis on the bench ahead of him, said to me that this is coming to an end and will come to an end.
“There are options at Watford and Blackburn. Watford are keener at this stage and have made more effort to explore this deal and see what they can do.
“If they become serious and are there to be had, given that Douglas’ [contract] is up next June, it would surprise me a little if he said no to that.”
It sure seems unlikely that Douglas will play for Leeds again.
Watford – and Blackburn if they ramp up their interest – have until 5pm next Friday to sign Douglas from Leeds otherwise the left-back will have to stay put until at least January.
In January, Douglas can be approached on a pre-contract by teams outside of England.
That means clubs from his native Scotland could try to sign him while Douglas has shown in his career that he isn’t afraid to take a step into the unknown by playing outside of the UK.
All of this is on the cards for someone who is clearly not in Bielsa’s plans but it would be good to get him sold in this short domestic transfer window so that the club can make some money off him and save his wages.
In other Leeds United news, Kalvin Phillips has told this former Leeds player that he misses him.