One player linked with Leeds United this summer has some pretty serious accusations against his name right now. But his current boss has his back.
Leeds United are targeting a number of players this summer, after Daniel Farke steered the Whites towards the Championship title at the second time of trying.
It wasn’t easy by any means: Leeds United had to win their final six games of the season, their last being a late 2-1 win against Plymouth Argyle, and still only won the title on goal difference.
Since then, there have been a number of players linked with a move to Elland Road in what promises to be a very exciting summer transfer window for Farke, albeit a very important one for both him and the club’s future.
There have been a handful of names who’ve been linked with the club throughout the year too, and who continue to be linked ahead of the summer transfer window which opens on June 1st for teams in England.
One such player is Kyle Walker-Peters at Southampton.
Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images
Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images
Kyle Walker-Peters accused of protecting himself ahead of summer transfer
Leeds United have been linked with Walker-Peters throughout the year. The 28-year-old is out of contract at Southampton this summer and set to become a free agent, with the likes of Everton, Spurs, West Ham also linked with Walker-Peters right now.
But Walker-Peters has missed his side’s last two games through illness. The Saints’ last game is on Sunday at home to Arsenal and there’s no clarity on whether or not Walker-Peters will play for the club one last time, leading to accusations that he’s protecting himself in a bid to seal a good transfer this summer.
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
Asked directly whether that’s the case, Southampton’s interim boss Simon Rusk told Daily Echo: “I think there’s a balance with that, isn’t there? One, he had a nasty illness which has taken a bit of getting over. Naturally, at this time of year, we’re looking at one or two of the younger ones in and around the group.
“We spoke about momentum for next season. There’s one or two complexities that take place with that. So the honest answer with that is, at the moment, there’s still probably a few assessments to be made around that.”
Rusk went on to add: “Whether he starts or not, I think he’s someone that we can fully appreciate. There’s a balance, and not everything’s black and white in terms of this situation.”
Photo by Pat Scaasi| MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Pat Scaasi| MB Media/Getty Images
Daniel Farke has a very busy week coming up at Leeds United
The end of the Premier League season will see the likes of Walker-Peters into the summer, and in a week’s time the summer transfer will officially open for business. So for Farke who is linked with several Premier League players right now, it’s a busy week or two coming up.
Names like Walker-Peters’ Southampton teammate Aaron Ramsdale will be looking for a move when the Premier League season is finally over. So too James McAtee, Caoimhin Kelleher and Konstantinos Tsimikas at Liverpool, and West Ham duo Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal, who’ve all been linked with Leeds United this summer.
Then there’s the European seasons coming to an end either this weekend or in the coming weeks, truly marking the start of the summer and the start of the summer transfer window for teams in Europe. A huge summer lies ahead in West Yorkshire.