Leeds United remain at the top of the Championship table but their lead has been reduced ahead of third-place has been reduced to just two points after Burnley’s 1-0 win over Oxford United.
Scott Parker’s men limped over the line on Tuesday night at Turf Moor in a game they should have been winning easily. Oxford’s January recruit Michel Helik scoring an own goal just after the half-hour mark.
But with 16 games to play, Leeds remain top and The 49ers will be planning for a summer that reflects an upcoming season in the Premier League. The Whites are expected to make a large number of additions.
Whether that includes on-loan midfielder Joe Rothwell remains to be seen. The technician has been key for Leeds this season, providing a completely different dimension in Daniel Farke’s Leeds midfield.
Joe Rothwell transfer will cost more than double Ao Tanaka fee
Ao Tanaka arrived at Leeds from Dusseldorf on deadline day in the summer, costing £3.4m. It has turned out to be one of the bargain buys of the century with Tanaka arguably worth five times that figure now.
His midfield bond with Rothwell has been excellent. But there has always been doubt over whether Leeds would pursue a deal for Rothwell, even if Daniel Farke says Rothwell has proved the early doubters wrong.
He will enter the final 12 months of his Bournemouth contract in June and having gone on loan twice, he has little future at The Vitality. TeamTalk say Bournemouth will entertain a figure in the region of £7.5m.
What Joe Rothwell has said about a permanent move this week
It is an interesting one. Rothwell is excellent when Leeds are controlling games, on the front foot and looking at attack but when the games are less controlled and away from Elland Road, he is less involved.
Dom Matteo has described Rothwell as “underrated” and he is certainly that. But having turned 30 last month, is he worth signing permanently come the summer? Rothwell remains in the dark about a move.
He said this week: “It’s gone as well as it could have done, when I got that chance I knew I could show what I’m about. It’s gone better than I could have expected. Who knows what will happen next season.”
There are arguments for signing Rothwell, and reasons not to. The 49ers will be tasked with making a decision at the end of the season but for now, Rothwell and Leeds will be focused on gaining promotion.
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