First Leeds United loanee returns to Elland Road as club decide not to exercise cut-price purchase option — YEP 9/5/24
By Joe Donnohue
Leeds United midfielder Sam Greenwood will return to Thorp
Arch this summer after a loan spell with Championship rivals Middlesbrough.
The Teesside club have opted not to exercise the
22-year-old's reported £1.5 million purchase option included in his initial
loan deal and will instead focus their resources elsewhere this summer,
according to the Northern Echo.
Boro are expected to formally propose a contract offer to a
second Leeds loanee as Luke Ayling looks to finalise a permanent switch to the
Riverside Stadium as a free agent over the coming weeks.
Greenwood joined Michael Carrick's outfit on a season-long
loan last summer, appearing 38 times in the league and cup competitions. The
ex-Arsenal and Sunderland youngster scored five goals and registered a further
three assists during his spell on Teesside but failed to contribute to a goal
during his final 16 outings in a Boro shirt.
Earlier this season, the club's director of football Kieran
Scott gave an interview to the BBC in which he stated: "He's on loan with
an option, I’ll leave it at that. The only slight issue that could come is if
Leeds were promoted, being totally transparent so everyone has the full
picture. If Leeds were to be promoted, we all know what comes with that, when
teams get promoted players do better for themselves. I'm sure Sam is one of
those and that is an issue that is there.
"I watched him when he was 15 at Sunderland. I really
liked him, couldn't afford him. He went to Arsenal and then I had another swipe
when he came out of Arsenal and chose to go to Leeds, which is fine.
"This is third time lucky. He's been good for us and
we've been good for him. Long may it continue."
Ultimately, Boro have chosen not part with the agreed
seven-figure sum for Greenwood and the player will return to Elland Road where
he remains contracted until 2027.
The Northern Echo reports: "Boro have instead lined up
other attacking targets as they look to bolster the attacking midfield area, a
priority this summer with Greenwood departing and Morgan Rogers and Matt Crooks
leaving in January.
"Finn Azaz joined in the winter window and enjoyed a
promising end to the campaign, Isaiah Jones was a regular this term, Riley
McGree and Marcus Forss are expected to be fit again for the start of
pre-season and Alex Gilbert staked his claim with two eye-catching displays
against Cardiff and Watford."
Leeds sent several players on loan last summer, including
those who had played a part in the club's relegation from the Premier League
months prior. While permanent deals for some have already been arranged, namely
Luis Sinisterra and Robin Koch, not all have transfers lined up meaning there
may yet be further Thorp Arch returnees in the weeks to follow.
