Since arriving at Leeds United, initially on loan from Serie A side Torino, Swedish international Pontus Jansson has been a revelation at Elland Road.
He arrived and tasted defeat in his first game as a White, a 1-0 defeat to local rivals Huddersfield Town. This defeat left Leeds in the bottom three, only four points from their opening six games.
United then went on a turn of form that saw them hit the play-offs and stay there for 142 days and a span of 26 games. Throughout this time, Jansson’s displays for the Whites not only helped to hold the defence together but also helped to begin to cement himself as a favourite of fans on the terraces.
It was long rumoured that the loan deal from Torino would convert to a permanent deal, that happened and was announced at the start of February this year. However, reports surfaced from early on Friday that the transfer itself was allegedly being looked at by FIFA, the story broken by the Guardian’s reporter Ed Aarons (tweets – below).
Fifa investigating Pontus Jansson's transfer to Leeds. Torino due £3.5m after triggering compulsory fee when he played 20 games #lufc
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) May 12, 2017
Re Pontus Jansson: Leeds want to delay payment until start of July but Torino want money now. Southampton among clubs to have shown interest
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) May 12, 2017
Details are sketchy as to what the nature of this probe is, indeed beyond the tweets from the Guardian’s Aarons there was very little of substance at all. Later yesterday evening, Phil Hay tweeted the following which provided the first attributable quotation to either party.
Re: Pontus Jansson and reports that Torino have complained to FIFA over the delay in Leeds paying £3.5m fee to sign him permanently…(1/2)
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) May 12, 2017
Torino have told the YEP they are "not in a position to comment on an ongoing dispute" – which implies that there is one. (2/2)
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) May 12, 2017
Such has been the impact of Swedish international Jansson at Elland Road since his arrival, it was almost inevitable that Leeds United fans would comment on the situation on social media – especially over on Twitter.
Leeds United fans comment on news of potential Jansson transfer hitch
It's all going tits up https://t.co/Vu7zcfZvq0
— Brad Pierce (@bradleyPLufc) May 12, 2017
Following on from Ed Aarons exposé early yesterday, supported by Phil Hay’s later tweets, it is safe to say that the one side of the general mood of Leeds United fans is typified by the above tweet. With Whites fans wanting to see Pontus Jansson form part of a returning, solid defensive core next season, news of a potential spanner in the works hasn’t gone down too well. It is also a worry for fans like the one below.
@andrearadri While #TOMA stutters & falls we are all left watching in horror as the contracts of Monk, Bartley & Jansson fritter away. #lufc
— Leedsmatt 💛💙 (@Leedsmatt) May 12, 2017
There are also supporters seeing the Torino wriggle as symptomatic of the Italian Serie A club looking to wheedle out of a Leeds deal in order to hawk Pontus Jansson to another bidder – one with a bigger cheque book.
https://twitter.com/sparkytim999/status/863149958614200323
Torino are trying to get out of the deal so they can sell Janson for treble of what leeds will pay. Just get it done @andrearadri
— Seán (@ROI_LUFC) May 12, 2017
It also seems to be something that Leeds fan Sean thinks might be the motive behind Torino’s sudden complaint – a complaint of convenience.
This fan (below) has a sneaking suspicion that Jansson’s still-parent club Torino have seen the flames, fanned by rumour, and have now created their very own smoke.
Wonder if there was a dispute before rumours saints are prepared to pay £10m ++ #lufc https://t.co/Bez8apd9JP
— Kevin sinfield (@kevin_sinfield) May 12, 2017
Pretty sure that this Leeds United fan’s tears won’t be the only ones shed should this deal go awry, as many fear might happen.
think I'll actually cry if something goes wrong with the Jansson deal 😩😩 #lufc
— Armo☀️🌙 #GrazieVale (@Jordan_Armo) May 12, 2017
The fallout carries over from yesterday and into today with Leeds fans wondering whether prior ‘form’ at Elland Road is likely to damn the club in their attempts to sign up a player many see as a building block around who next season’s successes will be built.
@lufcarchie7 here comes the @LUFC circus. Pontus will be leaving. https://t.co/pC95btAWA5
— David Stephenson (@davidstevo27) May 13, 2017
This is likely another bookmark in the saga that is often Leeds United. Now that affairs on the pitch have been concluded for the season, with affairs in the boardroom said to be nearing an endgame, it appears that other matters are possibly creeping in – at least that’s what many Whites fans are worrying about.
