Leeds United have reportedly decided to make Marco Silvestri and Rob Green available to leave Elland Road this summer.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Leeds could be about to sell Marco Silvestri to Serie A side Hellas Verona, while TalkSPORT’s Ian Abrahams has suggested on Twitter that Rob Green is also free to leave Elland Road this summer, seemingly hinting that Thomas Christiansen has made his mind up as to who his number one for the new season will be.
If that is the case, there is obviously every chance that summer signing Felix Wiedwald will be able to assume the role and his performances will win the fans who want Green to keep the job over, but it is surely a risk on the Whites’ part to let both of his rivals go if the reports are correct.
Leeds United’s Robert Green
Wiedwald has no prior experience of the Championship and will need to form an understanding with a defence predominantly made up of players who worked extremely well with Green last term.
The German may rise to the challenge and prove that Christiansen was right, if he does indeed put his faith in the 27-year-old, but letting Green and Silvestri go would leave Leeds incredibly exposed if Wiedwald fails to adapt to life in the Championship.
Of course, some Leeds fans may feel that Silvestri’s problems since moving to England means that he still should not be the answer if Wiedwald struggles and Green has indeed moved on – and instead, Christiansen should take a chance on Bailey Peacock-Farrell – but the Italian does have plenty of experience in the Championship.
And given that Green was often exceptional last season and Leeds’ play-off push may not have lasted as long had it not been for the former England stopper, keeping him in the ranks would surely be a smart idea in case Wiedwald does not hit the ground running.
And if Wiedwald does assume the number one position and his performances do justify Christiansen’s faith, surely having players like Green and Silvestri rivalling him on the training ground will ensure that the new man cannot allow any complacency to creep into his game if he wants to remain between the sticks.
Leeds’ Marco Silvestri
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