Leeds United missed out on Rajiv van La Parra in January.
Middlesbrough appeared to have landed a real transfer coup in January when they beat Leeds United to the signature of Huddersfield Town winger Rajiv van La Parra.
The 27-year-old had previously excelled in the Championship with Wolves, Brighton and Huddersfield, whilst he even scored four Premier League goals last season.
Van La Parra found himself on the fringes at Huddersfield in the first half of the season, and told ELF Voetbal in January that he chose Middlesbrough over a move to Leeds United.
That was seen as a blow to Leeds, but it has ended up being a lucky escape for the Whites, as the Dutchman’s spell at Boro has become a complete nightmare.
Van La Parra hasn’t started a game for Boro, made just three substitute appearances totalling 70 minutes, and is now seemingly heading back to Huddersfield already.
Boro boss Pulis has told the Teesside Gazette that Van La Parra has a back issue that simply hasn’t been resolved, and with Boro unable to get him up to the requisite fitness levels for Championship football, he’s been sent back to Huddersfield for treatment.
It’s now thought that Van La Parra won’t even play again this season, meaning Boro are left a winger short, and Leeds will feel that they really dodged a bullet.
He feasibly could have made an impact for Boro or Leeds, but his fitness issues have been too much to overcome, and Van La Parra may now need to just think about getting himself fit for a summer move – something Leeds certainly won’t be considering now.
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