According to Get French Football News, Jean-Kevin Augustin and his camp believe that he simply isn’t wanted at Leeds United.
The Whites struck a deal to take Augustin on loan from RB Leipzig in January, with the option of a permanent move if Leeds win promotion.
Signing Augustin was thought to be a hugely exciting move; he had shown promise with Paris Saint-Germain and Leipzig before struggling with Monaco.
Leeds fans hoped that Augustin would fire them to the Premier League, but he simply hasn’t hit the fitness levels Marcelo Bielsa wants – and he has made just three substitute appearances for Leeds.
Augustin wasn’t even on the bench against Luton Town on Tuesday night, and it’s claimed that the Whites have chosen not to extend Augustin’s loan deal despite having six games left to play.
It’s now claimed that Leeds failing to extend the loan is part of a wider plan to avoid paying a €21million (£17million) permanent clause for Augustin if they go up.
Having already spent €4million (£3million) on bringing him in on loan, Leeds simply don’t want to put any more money into Augustin – even if they hit the jackpot with promotion.
Augustin hasn’t been told directly that he isn’t wanted at Elland Road, but he and his camp believe that they have seen all the signs they need to believe that he won’t be a Leeds player next season.
The problem is in the terms of the loan; Leeds may be on the hook for a permanent deal if they committed to buying him upon promotion in the 2019-20 season, rather than before June 30th.
The global pandemic could help Leeds in this regard. Details will no doubt emerge in time, but the Whites are understandably trying to wriggle their way out of a permanent deal having been hugely disappointed with Augustin’s contributions.
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