Late last night, The Telegraph ran with a story that Tony Pulis’ West Brom were readying a £4m bid for the services of Leeds United left-back Charlie Taylor.
In that story, journalist John Percy said that Pulis, growing tired with the Baggies’ failings at left-back were looking at bringing in Taylor from the Whites when the transfer window opens in January. Previously, according to the Daily Star, during the last throes of the summer transfer window at the end of August, West Brom had made a £7m bid for Taylor’s services that was rejected by Leeds.
Taylor had already submitted a transfer request to the Whites after the last preseason game against Atalanta, a request swiftly dismissed by the Whites. At the time, as quoted in the Daily Mirror, Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino expressed his disappointment at Taylor’s behaviour saying: ““I’m very disappointed with the way he has acted. We are not going to let him go. Trust me.”
Taylor’s breakthrough into the Leeds United first team set-up was during the 2014/15 Sky Bet Championship season when then first-choice left-back Stephen Warnock left Leeds to go to promotion chasing Derby County. Since then, aside from illness and injury, Taylor has been the first choice left-back on the team sheet – making the position his own.
It is common knowledge that Charlie Taylor’s contract is up at the end of the season, the reported £4m interest from West Brom reflecting that as a makeweight amount between their £7m summer interest and the likely tribunal fee that they’d have to pay Leeds. due to his age.
The Telegraph said that Pulis and West Brom are ready to revisit their summer interest with a second bid for Taylor and that the Baggies “sent a senior member of their recruitment department to watch Taylor” in the 1-0 victory over Wolves at the weekend.
The news of West Brom’s interest in Taylor, who has been an ever-present this season in Garry Monk’s Leeds United that sit in 10th position in the Sky Bet Championship, has filtered over to Twitter. It is here that there is a definite mixed bag of opinion from Leeds United fans.
West Brom said to be readying bid for Charlie Taylor – Twitter reaction a ‘mixed bag’
First up is a group of Leeds fans definitely in the ‘Charlie to Stay’ camp when it comes to this rumoured interest from West Brom.
Liam stresses the importance of form that Taylor is showing at the moment – stressing that’d be a big loss.
https://twitter.com/_livefastdieold/status/790869077866737664
Leeds fan and Twitter user Distracted Leeds thinks that Taylor’s leaving will mean more than just the loss of a player, much more.
Taylor will likely go in Jan, and so will our hopes of a top 6 finish. He's solid gold, that boy. £4m is an insult. #lufc
— Total Leedsball (@TotalLeedsball) October 25, 2016
Leeds fan Marc is drawing parelells between the West Brom interest and Leeds’ supposed need to get the money to sign Pontus Jansson.
Depressing thought that probably the only way we will sign Jansson is if we sell Taylor… the present #lufc way of business.
— Marc Collins (@marccollins62) October 25, 2016
Scandanavia-based Leeds fan Geir is also of the above persuasion.
https://twitter.com/geirnarvik/status/790635646943633408
Meanwhile, Leeds fan Mickey just finds the whole story of West Brom being interested in Charlie Taylor somewhat laughable.
The papers will have you believe Charlie Taylor will get his dream move to West Brom in January 😂😂 #lufc
— Micky Padge (@mickipadgett) October 25, 2016
The last word for the ‘Remainers’ comes from Leeds fan and Twitter user Garry and the Monkfish who threatens in a jokey manner to send the boys round as a bargaining tool.
@LUFC I don't want Taylor to go tell the big man @TerryGeorge to tell the Italian man to offer him a better deal or I will send Jansen round
— Garry & the Monkfish (@cluelessMonk) October 24, 2016
However, tsome Leeds fans don’t see the ‘Charlie to Leave’ scenario as one that is totally disastrous, stressing that others could be brought in, or promoted through, to take his place.
Jake is one of those who think that others at the club could step in and fill any potential loss of Charlie Taylor’s services at Leeds United.
https://twitter.com/JakeyBerne/status/790868142612484096
That said, the overwhelming majority of Leeds United fans are looking at this reported £4m West Brom interest in a definite negative light. For them, it is doom-laden and doom-written all the way – there is no light nor any hope in the scenario.
It is a difficult one to be fair, Charlie Taylor has already shown by the handing in of a transfe rrequest that he feels that his future in football potentially lies eslewhere other than LS11 and Elland Road. Saying that, Leeds’ resurgent form of late could very well be an important measure that could convince Taylor to reverse his thinking and maybe sign a contract extension at the Whites.
