Pontus Jansson was conspicuous by his absence at Elland Road as the pre-season started. Even when those on international duty returned to Thorp Arch, still Jansson was absent.
Leeds United fans began to ruminate and form opinions as to what the reasons might be, some more fanciful than others. The upshot of the Swedish international defender’s absence was that a deal had been negotiated for his transfer to Brentford.
A bad influence in the dressing room was blamed for this hurried deal, one that was valued at an initial £5.5million, being rushed through between the two clubs. After three seasons at Elland Road, the talismanic defender was let go.
It shocked Whites fans, many who’d grown to love the combative centre-back. However, is a similar situation playing out under their very noses again, this time with goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell?
The young stopper is another player who has been, like Jansson, conspicuous by his absence. He wasn’t named in the tour squad that was taken to Australia and he didn’t feature against Al-Ittihad in the behind-closed-doors friendly at Thorp Arch last night.
In fact, his only appearance in pre-season has been against local neighbours Guiseley. Obviously, a player of his magnitude not making a friendly line-up is baffling. This is a keeper who started as the club’s #1 last season before the arrival of former Real Madrid keeper Kiko Casilla deposed him from the starting line-up for the Whites.
There are rumblings of Premier League interest from Burnley, although that is said to depend on their own keeper situation and any of theirs possibly moving on from Turf Moor. Another thing that has to be considered are comments that he made about using his Northern Ireland appearances as ‘a shop window’ for any sides interested in him.
When all is considered, everything taken properly into account, it seems strange that Bailey Peacock-Farrell isn’t getting a look-in in the pre-season friendlies. Again, one must question whether the young stopper is doing a Jansson and whether there are behind-the-scenes factors at play.
