Promotion or otherwise, the upcoming summer transfer window at Leeds United is likely to see an emphasis placed on keeping a talented crop of players together.
Daniel Farke has already confirmed that potential permanent deals for Manor Solomon and Joe Rothwell are on the backburner until Leeds United’s fate is sealed. Together, the Tottenham and Bournemouth loanees would likely set the Championship leaders back in excess of £20 million.
The same goes for Junior Firpo’s contract extension. Earning a reported £60,000-a-week, the in-form and suddenly prolific Junior Firpo is likely to be too expensive for a team on a Championship budget.
In short, the likelihood is that Leeds will need to secure promotion in order to keep Solomon, Rothwell and Firpo, not to mention any other key players attracting attention from more deep-pocketed clubs.
Joe Rothwell future is uncertain at Leeds United
Now, retaining the services of Solomon is likely to be something the Yorkshire giants see as a priority. The weaving winger has been a revelation at Elland Road. While he does not possess the same goal threat as Crysencio Summerville, Solomon’s artful movement and defence-splitting through balls have helped take Dan James and Joel Piroe to a whole new level.
Manor Solomon is keen to stay put at Leeds United. And, according to reports, the feeling is mutual.
As for Joe Rothwell, well, the situation is not quite so clear. The experienced midfielder is 30 years of age, after all.
Leeds United News have been informed that AFC Bournemouth value Rothwell at £7.5 million. A hefty fee for a player entering his fourth decade, not to mention one who struggled to make an impact in the Premier League with The Cherries.
As for possible replacements, three years after Ardon Jashari was linked with a move to Leeds United, the silky Switzerland international produced a display of class and composure on the Champions League stage to show why he should return to contention.
Leeds should consider Club Brugge ace Ardon Jashari again
“He blew us away, both offensively and defensively,” Ludo Vandewalle writes in Het Nieuwsblad after Jashari ran the show during Club Brugge’s last-16 first-leg with Aston Villa.
“He won every duel and created openings.”
An eventual 3-1 away win for Unai Emery’s side may suggest a dominant first leg in Belgium. Anyone who watched Club Brugge throw away a draw with a pair of defensive blunders late on will tell you otherwise.
Club Brugge had more shots, more possession, and 109 more passes.
John McGinn and particularly Youri Tielemans have blossomed on the Champions League stage. But, up as the Belgium international returned to his homeland on Tuesday night, Tielemans found himself caught in Ardon Jashari’s vice-like grip.
The 22-year-old former FC Luzern captain has often been tipped to replace Granit Xhaka in the Swiss national team. It’s easy to see why. Drifting between midfield and the Club Brugge back-three when the hosts had possession, Jashari controlled proceedings from deep with his patient, piercing passes.
Only centre-back Brandon Mechele had more than his 94 touches, with Jashari also completing 91 per cent of his attempted passes. One standout moment of skill – Jashari ‘humiliated’ Tielemans to quote Belgian publication Walfoot – drew cheers from the Jan Breydel Stadium terraces.
Jashari completed the most dribbles of any Club Brugge player too on the night.
Rothwell’s ability to carry the ball from deep is the one thing which really stands him out from the rest of Daniel Farke’s midfielders. As such, any one tasked with replacing him must also be able to turn defence into attack with a surging run through the thirds.
Jashari valued at £25 million amid Juventus and Napoli links
“It’s a shame to lose like this,” Jashari sighs, his stellar display at the heart of the hosts’ midfield going to waste as Mechele put through his own net moments before Christos Tzolis conceded a needless penalty swept home by Marco Asensio.
“We put in a great performance. Aston Villa didn’t have any big chances after their opening goal, whereas we had a few. They took the lead through an own goal, it was just bad luck.
“What makes it even more regrettable is that in my opinion we were the better team.”
Jashari won’t come cheap. According to reports, Italian giants Juventus, Napoli and Atalanta are already interested with Club Brugge reportedly valuing Jashari at £25 million.
Vandewalle would not be surprised to see the Swiss string-puller – presuming he maintains his current rate of progress – replacing Charles de Ketelaere while becoming the most expensive export in Club Brugge’s history.
Leeds, then, would have to invest and invest heavily if they do decide to put Jashari back on their wishlist. Yet, while he would set the club back a far higher fee than is required for Rothwell, Jashari is also nearly a decade the Bournemouth’s loanee’s junior.
In terms of potential – both sporting-wise and financially-speaking – splashing out £25 million on Ardon Jashari would arguably make a lot more sense than making Joe Rothwell’s deal permanent for £7.5 million.
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