Leeds youngster Sarkic is on loan at third-tier Spanish side
On loan in the Spanish third tier and struggling for game time, Leeds United loanee Oliver Sarkic is hardly enjoying life with minnows FC Barakaldo since moving on loan last summer.
Sarkic, 21, was brought to Elland Road in September 2017 from Portuguese giants Benfica before a deal was made in permanent months later. He featured in the reserves, before joining Barakaldo last summer.
He has since managed just eight appearances for the Spanish side, six of which have come from the bench. He has scored one goal for his loan side, scoring the winner last time out against CD Izarra.
Perhaps, that goal could be the springboard needed to go on and become a regular with Barakaldo, score a decent amount of goals and earn himself a new deal at Elland Road. But reality may tell a different tale.
Sarkic has played just 32 minutes since the turn of the year. Indeed, the Montenegro Under-19 international is struggling to get into a side that have only scored 22 league goals in 25 games.
The club’s need for a striker and a regular source of goals is enormous. But Sarkic continues to be constantly overlooked – so what does that say about his future at Elland Road?
Well, Sarkic has less than 18 months remaining on the contract he signed in 2017. That means there are two transfer windows remaining in which he can be sold – but the likelihood of Leeds getting money for a player struggling in third-tier Spanish football is small.
Sarkic is just one of 23 players out on loan this season from Leeds, joining the likes of Caleb Ekuban, Vurnon Anita, Hadi Sacko, Jay-Roy Grot and Pawel Cibicki. Even if the club do not gain promotion, a summer cull is on the horizon.
Unless Sarkic breaks into Barakaldo’s side and scores goal after goal, he is likely to be part of that summer cull.
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