One of the most glaring things about Leeds United’s start to their pre-season regime is actually something that is absent in the sense that no-one has seen Whites star Pontus Jansson involved.
There’s much conjecture and rumour abound from a supporter base that are often a mix of Columbo and Clouseau in their approach to skullduggery and detective work. Yet, it has to be said, Janson’s absence is more than a tad perplexing.
Yet, as rumours mount due to his continued absence from Leeds United’s pre-season, things are taking an altogether different direction. Some fans are saying Club X are in for him, others are saying that a fallout with Marcelo Bielsa is behind his absence, others adding he’s been told to stay away from the club until July 12th. In short, there’s a multitude of rumours going around.
Since joining the West Yorkshire side from Serie A Torino, not only has Jansson reinvigorated his international career, he’s also worked his way into the hearts of Leeds Unite fans. He gives all, expects everything and is the almost embodiment of the ‘Side Before Self’ mantra that courses through the veins of Leeds United fans.
Yet, and this is glaringly obvious, he isn’t involved in pre-season training that is so important to the way that Marcelo Bielsa plays his football. There is no official word from the club either, nothing to dispel the rumours that are mounting as to just what is going on.
Former Leeds United striker, and match summariser for BBC Radio Leeds, Noel Whelan has already copped some flak from Leeds fans for his comments about Jansson, and more could be in store. The case for this comes from an article that he has written for Football Insider where Football Insider say that Leeds should be looking to cash in to the tune of “between £15-20million” for the Swede who in his opinion is angling for an Elland Road exit.
They additionally say that “both player and club” are weighing up an exit from Leeds United, something which will dismay a lot of fans. The article also adds that “both parties are culpable for the speculation mounting over his future” as the rumours continue to swirl around in the social media ether.
Commenting directly, Whelan states the following:
“From what we’ve heard and what’s been whispered about I think it’s coming from both parties. If he doesn’t want to play in the Championship and feels he’s good enough to go into the Premier League then I look forward to watching him play there and see how he does. The only way to know how good you are, I guess, is to test yourself against the best.”
When asked what sort of price he thinks Leeds United should ask for Jansson, Whelan addsquite forthrightly that: “I think you’ve got to be looking around that £20million mark, to be honest” and cites his age, international experience and the key position he plays on the field.
Even at that price, there will be plenty of Leeds United fans who would not be happy that such an important player, a crowd idol, is being let go from the club when they are expecting a more successful promotion push this coming season.
