Andrea Radrizzani is ready to wield the axe at Leeds United
Fed up Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani blasted his players this week for letting the club down.
He raged: “We gave them long-term contracts, we supported them during our pre-season camp in Spain, we did everything they wanted but we didn’t get back their commitment, their passion and spirit, particularly in the last game I can mention [against Middlesbrough].
“The most important game we played poorly, and for me it was the bottom of the season because there was no commitment, no passion, no spirit. I don’t want players in my team representing Leeds United with this behaviour.”
It stands to reason then that the Leeds players who started against Middlesbrough who signed new contracts under Radrizzani should be fearing for their futures.
There are six of them, including some big names – but Radrizzani’s comment; “I don’t want players in my team representing Leeds United with this behaviour,” is pretty damning.
These are the six players who signed new deals in the summer of 2017, each penning either three or four year extensions: Stuart Dallas, Eunan O’Kane, Kalvin Phillips, Gaetano Berardi, Liam Cooper, Pontus Jansson.
It is hard to imagine Leeds getting rid of all six this summer, but they are each now fighting for their futures.
Jansson and Berardi are fan favourites, and Dallas is also admire, but O’Kane, Phillips and Cooper have regularly come in for flak this season and they are most at risk.
Radrizzani clearly regrets the way the players have repaid his faith and is ready to wield the axe. If that means getting rid of a couple of big names this summer, don’t be surprised if it happens.
If they are not sold, then they are likely to see potential replacements brought in and face being relegated down the pecking order.
These six players won’t be able to ignore Radrizzani’s comments and must step their game up in the final few weeks of the season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
