Leeds United could reportedly cash in on midfielder Lewis Bate this summer with the player not in the ‘first-team picture’, but selling him would surely be a mistake – especially, after the club was relegated to the Championship.
Bate, 20, joined Leeds in 2021 from Chelsea with Victor Orta agreeing a £1.5m fee. He broke into the first-team set-up due to injuries towards the end of last season – and this term, has spent the year on loan at third-tier Oxford.
Clocking up 35 games, his loan was cut short due to a hand injury – but he certainly impressed. Karl Robinson, who worked as our assistant under Sam Allardyce for the last four games, was impressed while still Oxford manager.
He was quoted in February by the Oxford Mail as saying: “I make no apologies, he’s one of the best I’ve ever worked with. This boy is a magician but he knows he’s got to add goals and assists to his game, that’s the next stage.”
But on Thursday, Phil Hay reported that Bate is set to go out on loan and could even be sold permanently because he is nowhere near the first team. Surely, he could still have an impact in the first team, and selling him is a mistake.
Selling Bate would surely be a mistake after Leeds were relegated
If Leeds had stayed up, then the likes of Weston McKennie might have remained. Tyler Adams and Marc Roca would not be going anywhere. But Leeds have been relegated. McKennie is gone, and Adams and Roca could follow him.
While new signings are expected, Leeds could find themselves lacking in the middle of the park. Especially, if Adam Forshaw’s 12-month extension is not activated in the next four weeks. Darko Gyabi and Archie Gray will come in.
But so should Bate. A player that is small in stature but gifted with excellent technical ability, passing and footballing brain. He has the ability to dictate games. Selling him, when we are lacking in midfielders, would be a big mistake.
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