Leeds United appear to have a fight on their hands if they hope to keep Pontus Jansson this summer.
Pontus Jansson of Leeds United celebrates
One of the main narratives from Leeds’ summer window appears set to be whether they can keep hold of their star players after a mostly tremendous season in the Championship.
One player they perhaps may not have expected to have to fight to hold onto is Pontus Jansson, after the defender signed a permanent deal with the Whites in February that will be confirmed at the end of the campaign (via BBC Sport).
However, it now appears that the Sweden international may be offered the chance to leave Elland Road in the summer with Kvallsposten suggesting that Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea are interested while the Daily Star claimed that Southampton were preparing a £10 million move.
While a lot can be done with £10 million – especially if Leeds fail to secure promotion – the Whites hierarchy would surely be making a major mistake allowing Jansson to move on for such a figure.
Leeds United manager Garry Monk
The 26-year-old has been a colossus at the back throughout the campaign, and is capable of inspiring the rest of the team with a full-blooded tackle or a brilliant block.
And Leeds will know all too well how difficult it would be to replace Jansson having had a number of centre-backs in recent times who have simply not been up to the job.
And with his regular partner Kyle Bartley only with the Whites on loan, having to potentially replace both of them will surely be an almost impossible task for Garry Monk.
For those reasons, Leeds should dig their heels in if they are resigned to losing Jansson at any stage and hold out for a premium fee as the Swede has arguably shown enough during his first year in England to suggest that he is worth a lot more.
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