Leeds United defender Pontus Jansson may be looking for a new challenge.
Leeds United signed a defender on Monday, bringing in Brighton and Hove Albion talent Ben White on a season-long loan to bolster Marcelo Bielsa’s options.
The focus may quickly turn to keeping hold of a defender already at Bielsa’s disposal, with question marks hanging over the future of centre back Pontus Jansson.
Jansson has been a popular figure since arriving from Torino in 2016, but it’s fair to say he had a strange end to last season.
The Swedish international was angry at the decision to hand Aston Villa a goal after controversy at Elland Road, and was left out of the starting line-up to face Derby County in their playoff second leg clash.
Leeds lost 4-2 on the night, crashing out of the playoffs, and Jansson was sat on his own on the pitch after the game, looking absolutely devastated as Derby celebrated.
Whether he was thinking about being left out or just being upset at Leeds missing out on promotion, Jansson’s actions resulted in many feeling that he may leave.
On Tuesday, Jansson was back training with boyhood and former club Malmo, but when asked about his future, he dodged the matter entirely, telling Expressen ‘I have nothing to say’ when pressed for a comment about his plans.
That’s a major change from Jansson, who just weeks ago suggested to Kvallposten that he may be ready for a new challenge, believing that he’s ready to play in the Premier League after three years with Leeds.
It may just be that Jansson is focusing on getting himself fit and ready for the new season, or he’s waiting to see whether any offers come his way this summer, but his refusal to even talk about his future, never mind ease Leeds fans’ fears, will bring even more questions about the situation.
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