Taylor

Leeds United: Taylor a no-go – Cellino belligerant

When Charlie Taylor took over the left-back role after Stephen Warnock left for Derby County, Leeds fans knew a gem had been unearthed. He was solid at the back and a consistent threat down the left flank.

However, talent such as that possessed by Taylor is a double-edged sword. Yes it graces and lights up the club one is playing for, but that glow also alerts other teams to the burgeoning potential.

That is just what has happened to Charlie Taylor who has attracted interest from newly-promoted Premier League sides Burnley and Middlesbrough. In addition to these two sides, relegated Championship side Newcastle and West Brom are also said by the Guardian to be keeping tabs on the 22-year-old.

However, according to an article in the Mirror by David Anderson, and backed up by tweets from his personal Twitter account, Taylor might not be going anywhere. It’s not that Leeds owner Massimo Cellino is playing hardball over the price he wants, in this case it’s a fit of pique driving the Leeds owner.

What is driving this sentiment from Cellino? It is the purported hurt that he feels from the way that Taylor and his agent have, according to Anderson in another tweet, angered the Leeds owner for “repeatedly refusing his offer of a new deal.” Due to this slight on him, Cellino says he will block any attempt from Burnley or Middlesbrough to sign him.

Two direct quotations, delivered in Anderson’s tweets (below), sum up perfectly Massimo Cellino’s entrenched position on the Taylor issue.

Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Phil Hay also chips in a ha’pennorth worth of opinion to the situation, drawing parallels between this situation and that of feloow full-back and Leeds United old boy Sam Byram. On this, Hay tweets:

It’s a strange state of affairs up Elland Road way at the moment, six players coming in, smatterings of promise and hope ahead of a new season and then all that unravelling with this news and that of Lewis Cook probably leaving the club too. However, Mirror reporter Anderson says that the difference in manner between how Cook and Taylor have comported themselves means that the Leeds owner is willing to allow the Cook transfer to advance to fruition, whilst stalling any Taylor moves.

Should Massimo Cellino follow up his threat to refuse any offers for Taylor, out of what is essentially a fit of pique, then there is only one saving grace out of this sorry state of affairs. Due to his age, as long as Leeds United offer a new deal to him, then they can at least get a tribunal fee for him should any other club sign him.

Previous Article
Sheffield United

Blades consider move for versatile Brentford defender

Next Article

Villa record 214% shirt sales increase as fans unite

Related Posts