Sky Sports pundit: Eyebrows raised over £25m-rated Leeds-linked ace as deadline draws near
Former Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone has warned that Norwich’s Todd Cantwell may have put off potential suitors amid links to Leeds United.
The Daily Star reported at the weekend that Leeds are expected to sign Cantwell, 22, before the 5pm transfer deadline on Friday.
However, The Sun journalist Alan Nixon has added that Norwich’s £25million valuation of the England Under-21 attacker is keeping the Whites at bay for now.
But, according to Huddlestone, it’s not Norwich’s price-tag that’s putting clubs off – it’s the fact that Daniel Farke came out to publically criticise Cantwell’s lack of focus amid the speculation [The Pink ‘Un].
“There are only a few days left. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was to go,” the pundit told Sky Sports News on Wednesday. “But his manager coming out and publically questioning his attitude in training and subsequently leaving him out of the squad the following game would raise a lot of eyebrows for Premier League suitors.
“It could be one of them, from his point of view, he sees a few of his team-mates that have left already. And I am not sure that he has had much interest, but he probably feels that after doing so well in a struggling team last year that he deserves to be let go to a PL club again.
“But at this age, he has to knuckle down and if now move was to materialise then he has to put himself in the best situation possible to get Norwich back in the Premier League at the first opportunity.”
It is a good point that Huddlestone has raised.
Transfer speculation is part and parcel of being a footballer and you would imagine that the players with the best attitudes will be able to keep up their form and carry on playing despite not knowing where their future lies.
Cantwell was a bright light in a dismal Norwich season as the Canaries were relegated from the Premier League last term.
However, the Dereham-born ace has not been selected by Farke in his last two matchday squads in the Championship.
Marcelo Bielsa has high standards for his players.
Compare Cantwell to Raphinha, who scored a goal and assisted one in Rennes’ 2-2 draw with Reims before signing for Leeds just hours later.
Bielsa wants Raphinhas, not Cantwells – in terms of attitude.
In other Leeds United news, fans have reacted to Phil Hay’s update from the Premier League.