Should Leeds United give linked-away Marcus Antonsson a chance?
Some Leeds United fans might have forgotten about Marcus Antonsson’s existence.
And considering the Swedish striker – who spent last season on loan at Blackburn – hasn’t kicked a ball for Leeds in over 18 months, few could blame them for doing so.
But he is set to return to the Whites for pre-season under new head coach Marcelo Bielsa, and does the 27-year-old, who cost United some £2 million two years ago [Yorkshire Evening Post], deserve another chance before the Elland Road club move him on this summer?
The former Kalmar hitman has only started six Championship games for Leeds, before then-United manager Garry Monk effectively exiled him for the second half of the 2016-17 campaign in West Yorkshire.
Despite the lack of action, he had won Leeds fans’ affections for his industry and work ethic, two qualities which Bielsa is known for admiring and it seems odd to sell him before the Argentine coach has had a chance to work with him.
The YEP reported earlier this week that Brescia – under former Leeds owner Massimo Cellino – wanted to bring Antonsson to Italy and although he has done little to suggest that he deserves time to turn it around in England, he has hardly had the chances to be a success.
It’s true that he barely played under Monk, but the now-Birmingham City boss only used a system with one striker and, well, Chris Wood was scoring virtually every week and wound up with 30 goals, so Antonsson’s lack of minutes doesn’t paint him in a negative light.
Leeds obviously thought enough of him to pay £2 million for his services at one point and dumping their investment before really testing it would be a questionable decision.
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