Junior Firpo has finally taken to Instagram following Leeds United’s relegation to the Championship – stating that it took him a while to decide if he should send a message to fans, amid reports that he is set to leave this summer.
Firpo, 26, has not lived up to the hype since he arrived at Elland Road from Barcelona for a fee of £13m. Starring in La Liga with Barcelona and Real Betis, he has simply not replicated the form he showed in Spain – playing 51 times.
Just 51 games across two seasons largely came about due to injury in the first season and then this year, because he could not displace Pascal Struijk until the sacking of Jesse Marsch. Firpo is one of many that are likely to depart.
Indeed, Fabrizio Romano reported this week that Firpo is the subject of interest from a number of European sides, and the plan is to try something new. Now, the defender has taken to Instagram on Thursday, discussing relegation.
Firpo has taken to Instagram following Leeds relegation to Championship
Firpo is one that has to be sold. He is on big wages, £55,000 a week while he was in the Premier League. While a drop into the Championship will see that wage slashed, it is still going to be a big fee for a second-tier club to pay.
So, Leeds need to offload him. The Whites do have back-up in the form of Struijk and the impressive Leo Hjelde, who showed all last season that he can impress in the Championship – with his loan spell at Rotherham United.
A return to La Liga is more than likely for a player that has shown he can do it in Spain, just not yet in England. It will be interesting to see who comes in for Firpo – with a return to Betis possibly the one that holds most weight.
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