Leeds United’s five players out on loan have had varying degrees of success so far this season.
Jack Harrison, Rasmus Kristensen, Sam Greenwood, Darko Gyabi and Sonny Perkins all left Leeds temporarily in the summer in a bid to either save their future at Elland Road, or secure a permanent move elsewhere.
Harrison, Kristensen and Perkins all almost certainly have no way back at Leeds, but for Greenwood and Gyabi this season feels like last chance saloon.
Leeds fans will be delighted when both Harrison and Kristensen are off the books permanently after their decision to leave on loan two summers in a row since relegation. Perkins, meanwhile, is out of contract in 2025.
As for Greenwood and Gyabi, they will both still have a year left on their deals at the end of the season. If Leeds remain in the Championship and they enjoy a good year, the door may well be open for a return.
Plymouth director reveals Leeds’ Darko Gyabi recall clause
As the January window approaches it is always a worrying time for clubs who have players on loan due to the potential of them being recalled.
Five years ago, Leeds could only watch on as Arsenal cut short Eddie Nketiah’s loan spell at Elland Road. It is also one of the reasons Sheffield United beat Leeds to Jesurun Rak-Sakyi in the summer.
And it has been revealed by Plymouth Argyle director of football Neil Dewsnip that Leeds have the option to recall Gyabi next month following his summer switch to Home Park.
However, Leeds must decide within the first week of the window whether this is something they want to do, with Dewsnip telling the Plymouth Herald the cut-off point is January 7.
He said: “So Darko Gyabi, for example, between the first and the seventh of January, Leeds can recall him. But once it gets past the seventh they can’t. That, I would like to think, is us defending ourselves, but the reality is they are not ours.”
Leeds should leave Gyabi at Plymouth
By the time January rolls around Ethan Ampadu should be back in contention for Leeds, providing he doesn’t suffer any setbacks in his recovery.
As such, there would be little point recalling Gyabi as the chances of him getting any game time would virtually be none.
£5m Gyabi would be behind Ampadu, Ao Tanaka, Joe Rothwell, Josuha Guilavogui and potentially even Charlie Crew for a place in midfield.
Plymouth may be enduring a tough time in the Championship right now, but this experience will only benefit Gyabi in the long run.
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