According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leo Hjelde is “in line for a loan move away” from Leeds United, but his destination is unknown at this time.
On January 19, Joe Donnohue wrote on the paper’s website that Norwegian defender Hjelde, who started the Championship opener at left-back for Daniel Farke, was set to leave the club after Lewis Bate‘s loan move to MK Dons. The manager has since revealed that the 20-year-old has been demoted to the reserves and is no longer in the first-team plans.
Surplus to requirements
The kid was extensively linked with a move to Salernitana before the summer transfer window closed, but a deal was never completed. It remains to be seen whether the Italians will emerge as takers this month, but with no chance of playing for Leeds United‘s senior side and significant issues at back left-back and centre-back, there appears to be little purpose in Hjelde staying in West Yorkshire.
If Farke believes the defender has the potential to become a first-team player, continued development on loan is likely to be the best option.
However, if he has already made his long-term decision, a permanent exit is almost certainly on the cards sooner rather than later.
Aside from the obvious exception of Archie Gray, there hasn’t been a great deal of successful breakouts from the junior setups to the senior side at Elland Road in recent times.
The uncertain futures of Charlie Cresswell and Joe Gelhardt, two players who were anticipated to make significant contributions by now, are simply adding to the situation.
Hjelde was given an early chance under the new management but plainly failed to impress, and he appears to be as far away from forcing his way into the German’s mind as ever, thus he will most likely not last long at Leeds United.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay revealed whether Farke is going to abandon another loan deal early.
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