Speaking on the Inside Elland Road Podcast, Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth has delivered an update on the Jean-Kevin Augustin saga at Leeds United.
It’s been quite some time since we heard anything on this saga, but it seems as though a decision is finally coming.
In case you’ve forgotten the situation with Augustin and Leeds, here’s a little refresher.
Leeds had negotiated a loan deal for Augustin that included an obligation to buy the striker if they were promoted at the end of the 2019/20 season, which of course, they were.
However, the loan deal had an expiry date which, due to the season being halted by lockdown, had passed by the time Leeds’ promotion was confirmed, so the Whites’ argument is that they don’t owe Leipzig the money.
Understandably, Leipzig see the situation rather differently and are chasing Leeds for the fee they feel they are owed, and for the past year the case hasn’t been settled, eventually ending up in FIFA’s hands.
A decision is yet to be made, but Smyth says that this saga is finally coming to an end.
What’s been said?
Smyth got onto the subject of Augustin on the latest edition of his podcast.
“They signed he who shall not be named (Augustin), whose case we believe is coming to a conclusion. It’s being presided over and hopefully we will be able to get some answers from FIFA, who we have been checking in with on a sporadic basis, to ask what the latest is, so the Jean-Kevin Augustin, Leeds United, RB Leipzig saga could be coming to an end.”
Finally
It’s about time that we had this update.
This saga has rumbled on for far too long, and we need a conclusion one way or another.
Of course, whether or not this decision goes in Leeds’ favour remains to be seen, and it seems as though FIFA are remaining tight-lipped on their view of the matter, as Smyth didn’t give any information on the likely outcome.
United fans will certainly be hoping that they don’t have to pay the fee, but at the moment, it’s impossible to say what will happen.
One thing is for sure though, Augustin won’t be playing for Leeds or Leipzig again as both clubs agreed that he could join Nantes on a free transfer at the beginning of this season.
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