Leeds United ace Leif Davis has encountered a surprise twist over his future, as his proposed season-long loan move to Bournemouth has collapsed [Football Insider].
The Lowdown: Leeds United look towards the new campaign
Careering closer to the start of competitive 2021/22 football, Whites manager Marcelo Bielsa will be keen on shaping his squad in a fashion capable of improving on their ninth placed finish last term.
Acquiring high-profile signings will be a key feature of this, however selling on spare parts or farming out young talent on loan will also take important precedence.
Despite that, one man who looks as if he may be staying at Elland Road for a while yet is 21-year-old Davis, following recent reports.
The Latest: Davis move to Bournemouth falls through following advanced talks
Previously, the youngster looked set to move to the Vitality Stadium following advanced talks with the second-tier outfit [Football Insider].
However, a Leeds source claims discussions have now fallen through between the two clubs.
Contact will take place to see if a move can be re-ignited ahead of Bournemouth’s inaugural Sky Bet Championship fixture on August 6th vs West Brom, however no such outcome is expected by those involved in communication.
The Verdict: Conflicting feelings will surround the Davis situation
Conflicting opinions will surround this latest development. On one hand, Davis provides a solid back-up option to Junior Firpo and Stuart Dallas, given that Dallas can now thrive in midfield and let the youngster serve as deputy to the new signing.
Conversely, his footballing development could have been accelerated considerably within the competitive environment of the Championship.
In 2020/21, Davis made 18 appearances combined for Leeds United and Leeds United Under-23’s [Transfermarkt].
Impressing with his desire to move the ball effectively, the Newcastle-born defender recorded a commendable 89.5% passing accuracy rate across the piece [WhoScored].
Once labelled as ‘brilliant’ by Marcelo Bielsa, he most certainly is someone who can contribute long-term at the Whites [Leeds Live].
Unlikely to feature regularly for Leeds United regularly in the forthcoming months though after the capture of Firpo, a loan switch elsewhere is surely the ideal solution moving forward.
In other news, Leeds United have been linked with a Bundesliga ace.