Leeds United will be busy in the transfer market this summer with a number of new signings expected if the club are promoted to the Premier League – but room will be made.
As things stand, three players will be leaving Leeds United at the end of the season in the form of Junior Firpo, Sam Byram and Josuha Guilavogui. Leeds are yet to make a decision on Illan Meslier’s future.
Leeds have plenty of fringe players that will need to be sorted out, especially on loan. It is difficult to see a future at Elland Road for the likes of Sam Greenwood, Joe Gelhardt and Darko Gyabi, who are on loan.
Graham Smyth has previously said Patrick Bamford will leave this summer and now, Smyth says another player will be leaving Leeds in the coming months, a move that will see Leeds sell a Jesse Marsch signing.
Graham Smyth says Rasmus Kristensen will join Frankfurt
Denmark star Kristensen was one of two players that saw his relegation loan clause re-activate at the start of the season, with Jack Harrison. Kristensen spent last season on loan at Roma, where he struggled.
But in the summer he moved to Germany with Robin Koch’s Eintracht Frankfurt. Kristensen has starred for the German side as they push for Champions League qualification, with Frankfurt sitting in third place.
Kristensen has earned praise from manager Dino Toppmoller and reports this week say Kristensen is set for a move to Frankfurt for a £6.5m fee. Now, Smyth has given his take on the Inside Elland Road podcast.
“He’s expected to leave this summer so it’s a case of when, not if. It feels very likely it will be Frankfurt, they want to keep him. That one will happen. Very surprising if he goes anywhere else. He’s gone.”
Rasmus Kristensen is finally showing what he is capable of
Joining Leeds for £10m from Salzburg and reuniting with Jesse Marsch in the summer of 2022, it has been a difficult few years for Kristensen. He struggled at Leeds, with Luke Ayling coming back in for Kristensen.
His move to Roma was poor. Immediately after joining, Jose Mourinho didn’t pick Kristensen in his Europa League squad. Ultimately, he struggled with the competition of Zeki Celik and Rick Karsdrop on the right.
But at Frankfurt, as Smyth says, Kristensen has found his home. The right of a 3-5-2 system, Kristensen is playing a key role in the German’s side push for continental qualification and a permanent move is likely.
‘Gone for good’: Graham Smyth says £10m player will be removed from Leeds United’s books this summer
