, Leeds United holdout defender won’t return for pre-season

Leeds United holdout defender won’t return for pre-season

Leeds United has been in Charlie Taylor’s blood since the 23-year-old arrived at Elland Road as a youngster, it is all he has known football-wise.

That all started to change, with news he was not included in the matchday 18 for the final game of last season against Wigan. It had been a season blighted with both injury and criticism from some fans over a perceived lack of interest from the York-born youngster.

He started this season under somewhat of a cloud after handing in a transfer request after Leeds’ final preseason game against Atalanta at Elland Road, a request dismissed out of hand by the club.

It was painfully clear that Taylor was likely to move on at the end of his current deal, with that time upcoming, with Leeds CEO Ben Mansford saying of the situation: “I think it’s fair to say at this moment in time that Charlie doesn’t want to extend his current deal with us.”

That all proved to be the case as holdout Taylor made his position very clear to the point of it almost appearing as crystal. For the York-born left-back, his decision to not turn out for Leeds United against Wigan is what it is.

Effectively his decision was a footballing two-fingers up to the club, what it believes and, particularly for those fans who stood by him, it was a total betrayal. In reality there is no, and shouldn’t really be, a comeback to the club. Taylor’s initial decision and refusal goes well beyond that.

So it comes as no surprise that he will not be returning to the club for pre-season training, which is scheduled to start later this week – the players expected to return on Friday.

Taylor, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post (YEP), will not be amongst the returning players. Charlie Taylor, however, is unlikely to be present at Thorp Arch on Friday despite being offered a new two-year contract.

As reported by the YEP, Taylor will not be there with them stating: “Charlie Taylor, however, is unlikely to be present at Thorp Arch on Friday despite being offered a new two-year contract.”

With the YEP stating this, the bigger question is whether Leeds United fans would want him back at the club anyway. The answer to that one is likely to be quite an emphatic ‘NO’ from many.

Previous Article
, Championship Transfer Roundup – the deals so far (19/6/17)

Championship Transfer Roundup - the deals so far (19/6/17)

Next Article
, Middlesbrough set to lose key influential trio

Middlesbrough set to lose key influential trio

Related Posts