[ad_pod ]
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Leeds United saw Kemar Roofe depart for Anderlecht on Tuesday, with doubts still remaining over Kalvin Phillips’ long term future at Elland Road with his current contract due to run out in the summer of 2021 and no progress over a new one.
The Yorkshire outfit reportedly offered new deals to both Roofe and Phillips this summer, but one has gone and the other has been heavily linked with Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur while failing to commit to the club.
Reliable club insider and The Athletic journalist Phil Hay was asked by a fan in a Q&A (subscription needed) why the Whites have been unable to match the wage demands for Roofe and Phillips, and his answer was an interesting one.
He said: “It’s tough in the Championship. Both Phillips and Roofe would be looking for in excess of £20k a week. It’s not that they’re not worth it – Leeds just have to make judgement about what they can afford.”
Now there is no doubt that after the 2018/19 campaign that the duo were two of Leeds’ best and most important players, so it seems strange that they weren’t –and haven’t been – offered contracts they believe are acceptable.
Watch Leeds United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below
Meanwhile, divisive goalkeeper Kiko Casilla is sitting on £35,000-a-week according to a separate Hay article on The Athletic, and he has left some of the Elland Road faithful unconvinced by him – including the in playoff disaster against Derby County.
The Sun journalist Alan Nixon tweeted earlier in the summer that the Spaniard would be allowed to go with Sevilla one of the clubs reported to be sniffing around the former Real Madrid man, but instead he has remained at Elland Road and is the undisputed number one with manager Marcelo Bielsa praising him following the opening day win against Bristol City.
But given his wages and the fact that he is yet to convince some that he is a top-class stopper, you have to wonder if Leeds have made a mistake by not offloading his sizeable wages – saving some money that could have been put towards improved deals for Roofe and Phillips.
Yes, the former may be replaceable with links to Dwight Gayle and Eddie Nketiah potentially exciting, but he was still the Yorkshire outfit’s top marksman last term and will be a big miss.
It is perhaps a different story with Phillips though, who it would be really difficult to find a successor for given there aren’t a plethora of defensive midfielders – including ones who can fill in centre-back – available who can bring what he does for the Whites in that position.
Thogden ranks all 24 Championship away kits in the video below…
He wins the ball back, as shown by the fact he averaged 2.6 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per league appearance last season, according to WhoScored, before quickly recycling it to his teammates as shown by his average of 4.6 long balls.
While the 23-year-old looks set to stay beyond the deadline as things stand, his value may well decrease as his contract runs down even further and if the difference between keeping hold of him and losing him was Casilla and his wages, Leeds may have made a calamitous error.
[ad_pod ]
