New Leeds blow emerges immediately after Middlesbrough defeat as £40m clause activated

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Only a couple of hours had passed from the dismal showing that saw Leeds United knocked out of the Carabao Cup, to find that Georginio Rutter could be about to leave Elland Road.

Rutter came on as a sub on Wednesday night as Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough side dismantled Daniel Farke’s Leeds in the second-half of their Carabao Cup first round clash at Elland Road, to go and win 3-0.

Leeds have already sold seven players this summer including big-name sales of Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Glen Kamara. Marc Roca, Diego Llorente, Charlie Cresswell and Kris Klaesson have left.

Now, they could be joined by Rutter with Premier League club Brighton closing in on a move that could eclipse the fee that saw Leeds pocket £40m from the sale of 18-year-old phenomenon Gray this summer.

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Brighton have bid accepted to sign Leeds star Georginio Rutter

Leeds’ club-record signing starred for Farke’s men last season. After a woeful first six months at the club which included four managers and relegation, Farke got the best out of him with 24 goals and assists.

The Athletic report that has intrigued Brighton. David Ornstein writes that Brighton have had two bids rejected for Rutter already at £29m and £35m and now, they have tabled a £40m fee to sign the attacker.

It is said that Leeds have been forced to accept as it is a clause in Rutter’s contract. A decision will now need to be made by Rutter with The 49ers potentially set to upset the entire fanbase by selling Rutter.

Losing Rutter single-handedly ends Leeds promotion hopes

What is worrying for Leeds fans, aside from six goals conceded in the club’s first two games and the loss to Luke Ayling’s Boro, is that Leeds have sold Gray and Summerville and are yet to bring in replacements.

Rutter is the next-best player in this Leeds squad in terms of value. A fee of £40m or more would see the Whites would gain a profit of £5m on Rutter but a move completely depends on what Rutter wants to do.

For the sake of Leeds’ promotion hopes, for the sake of The 49ers’ relationship with fans and for the sake of Farke’s tenure as manager, Leeds will be keeping everything crossed that Rutter stays put at Leeds.