Has ex-Celtic defender Emilio Izaguirre hinted at Leeds United snub?

Follow us on Google Discover

Emilio Izaguirre says he turned down offers from the Championship when leaving Celtic last summer – and Leeds United had wanted him at Elland Road.

It seems that Emilio Izaguirre was right to leave Celtic in the summer transfer window.

The long-serving Honduran had fallen down the pecking order thanks to the rise of Kieran Tierney and Celtic’s number 63 is now one of the first names on Brendan Rodgers’ team-sheet, making 48 appearances in all competitions this season.

So Izaguirre, who departed after six league titles for a £1.25 million switch to Saudi outfit Al-Fayha, probably would not have got a look in.

But despite his reduced role at Parkhead last season, Izaguirre has revealed that there were still clubs in England interested – but he wanted a new challenge elsewhere.

“There are personal reasons. I had offers from the (English) Championship but these are things that happen in life and you can’t have regrets,” Izaguirre told Diez.

The left-back does not state which club he turned down in the summer transfer window but, considering that Leeds United were pretty much the only second tier side who were actually linked with a move for Izaguirre, he might just be hinting at interest from Elland Road.

The Sun stated in January of last year that Leeds had expressed an interest in the 2010 World Cup star when it became clear that his days on the green half of Glasgow were numbered.

The Whites knew they would need a left-back with Charlie Taylor (above) due to depart when his contract expired but they ended up with Club Brugge’s Laurens de Bock rather than Izaguirre.