Leeds United are reportedly going to let Paudie O’Connor leave on loan.
According to The Mirror, Leeds United are set to sign Paudie O’Connor up to a new deal and then loan him out for the 2018-19 campaign. The 20-year-old defender impressed in Leeds’ senior side toward the end of last season under Paul Heckingbottom, starting four Championship games.
The young Irishman showed plenty of promise, albeit amid an injury crisis of centre-back options, but O’Connor certainly enhanced his reputation and some fans might be disappointed to see him loaned out.
Love Island World Cup: If EVERY contestant was a 2018 England World Cup player
Lord knows that Leeds have plenty of players who aren’t good enough for the first-team squad – some in the short term, while some will never be good enough – but O’Connor has shown enough potential to warrant chances under new head coach Marcelo Bielsa; maybe not as a regular starter, but as cover.
If O’Connor leaves it will be because Bielsa has presumably decided that he can make do without him, but would Conor Shaughnessy be the better option to leave on a temporary basis?
Shaughnessy has been missing since January with an ankle injury, but if he is fit by the start of next season then perhaps he should be loaned out instead of O’Connor.
The towering centre-back, who can also play defensive midfield, turns 22 on Saturday and he is going to need regular football after spending so long on the sidelines.
Shaughnessy had a fan in former Leeds boss Thomas Christiansen, who gave him his United debut, but he struggled for form and regular football at the time of his injury and it isn’t a stretch to believe that O’Connor could be more of an asset for Bielsa next season than his fellow Irishman.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
