Cards in Leeds United’s favour on Georginio Rutter’s Premier League exit.
According to Adam Pope, Leeds United have the cards in their “favour” when it comes to Georginio Rutter possibly moving for the Premier League in January.
The BBC Leeds correspondent discussed the potential of a midseason exit on the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on 30 October, following another outstanding performance from the Frenchman against Huddersfield, and stated that the club is “not keen to let him go at this stage.”
He stated that the only way he could go is if the Whites do not lose money on his club-record £35.5 million fee [Sky Sports, 15 January], although both Pope and BBC colleague Jonny Buchan voiced pessimism that top-flight clubs will make a move for him this winter if he isn’t scoring consistently.
“Is he doing enough for a Premier League club to come in for him?” Buchan said (10:30). We all know he’s performing phenomenally, but is he good enough for a Premier League club to come in, and would they be able to afford him that licence?
“Because he didn’t really do it in the Premier League so surely they’re basing their opinion on that rather than on his Championship form.”
“From his own perspective, he is building his confidence at Leeds, in a side that is obviously going places at the moment and, who knows, could end up getting promoted,” Pope continued.
“If everything goes well, this will be a great step forward in his career, so stay there.” However, if an offer is made, it must be in a way that Leeds does not lose money.
“They’re not keen to let him go at this stage, so I think the cards are stacked against Leeds, because if he’s not scoring goals, will a Premier League club look at him in January and think, ‘You’re going to save our season?'”
“He’s going to be looking at that end of the Premier League at this stage rather than the top end.”
Don’t ruin it now.
If Victor Orta was encouraged to take a risk on a high-priced deal for Rutter last winter, there is definitely room for another team to do the same a year later.
Rutter showed nothing in the Premier League last season because he wasn’t ready to be thrown into a rescue job midway through the season, and the rotating cast of managers he had to play for progressively disregarded him as an option.
He has recovered well this season, albeit at a lower level, and appears to be playing with a lot of confidence today.
In contrast to the majority of the players brought in over the past year, the 21-year-old didn’t appear to be in any hurry to leave in the summer.
So, while it cannot be completely ruled out, it appears doubtful that he would risk putting himself back in the same predicament he was in at the start of the year after making such rapid progress recently.
Fans would hope that he believes he is in the greatest possible situation at Leeds United, with Daniel Farke in charge and a growing side performing well with him at the heart of it.
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