Leeds United took to the air yesterday as they travelled down under for their pre-season tour of Australia. Jesse Marsch and his 26-man squad will face three games in eight days from Thursday, with an opportunity to see the six summer signings in the flesh and to hopefully see the Leeds manager’s philosophy in action.
The announcement of Marsch’s squad yesterday garnered plenty of interest, and not just for the names on it. Several key players will remain in the UK, ostensibly to continue their training with Leeds in the country.
That statement will ring true for the likes of Junior Firpo, Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas - who are all recovering from respective injuries/knocks - but for the fully fit of those left behind, there are some uncertain futures. The raft of new arrivals will inevitably push others to the fringes, while the fresh slate of Marsch’s first pre-season will likely encourage the departure of some Marcelo Bielsa players.
READ MORE: Leeds United transfer news LIVE: Whites reveal squad for Australia with no sign of Raphinha
Here are five of the key absences, and what their future may hold.
Raphinha
The obvious one. Raphinha’s omission from the squad list was the main talking point yesterday, with the Brazilian’s request to remain in the UK and sort out his own future all but confirmed.
The Whites winger will no doubt be glued to his agent Deco as the two work on securing his dream move to Barcelona. Chelsea remain keen after their £60million bid was accepted nearly two weeks ago, but are becoming increasingly frustrated at the winger’s silence regarding personal terms.
The 25-year-old’s departure from Elland Road looks a surety as he looks for the next step in his rocketing career. Raphinha arrived in West Yorkshire for just £17million in the summer of 2020 and could now depart for more than triple that.
Jamie Shackleton
Jamie Shackleton featured in Thursday’s 4-0 win against Blackpool, but his omission from the 26-man list adds further credence that the 22-year-old will leave on loan. A victim of his own versatility, the Whites academy product failed to specialise either at right-back or central midfield.
He has since fallen further down the pecking order after the arrivals of Marc Roca, Tyler Adams and Rasmus Kristensen as well as the development of Cody Drameh and Archie Gray. A loan move away now seems the most likely option, with Millwall reported favourites and a reunion with Charlie Cresswell on the cards.
Shackleton, still just 22, has 80 appearances under his belt over a four-season spell at the club. He will no doubt attract interest from a host of other Championship clubs.
Lewis Bate
Another who featured on Thursday, Lewis Bate’s name being left out of the touring party came as quite a surprise. Leeds’ summer business has added two midfielders, but the arrival of Marc Roca was thought to have given the 19-year-old a direct first-team predecessor.
But Marsch’s admission that he considers 16-year-old Archie Gray a first-team player, and the Whites manager’s inclusion of experience in the form of Adam Forshaw and Mateusz Klich has wedged the door shut for Bate.
The teenager left Chelsea last summer in a bid for more senior football but has been left wanting since coming to Elland Road. He and Leeds may see a loan move as the best possible option this season, with the midfielder returning to succeed Forshaw next year.
Helder Costa
It is becoming clear that Helder Costa’s days at Leeds are numbered. The Portuguese winger spent last season on loan at Valencia, making 22 appearances for the Spanish side, and has fallen further down the Whites pecking order upon his return.
He still has two years left on his contract, and the club are unlikely to recoup anything close to the £16million they spent in July 2020 to make his loan permanent, but another temporary move away - potentially with an option to buy, as with Tyler Robert’s deal with Queens Park Rangers - could benefit all parties.
The 28-year-old could still prove a valuable asset in the Championship, but a move abroad is more likely.
Kiko Casilla
Similarly to Costa, it has been clear for a while that Kiko Casilla will not play for Leeds again. The mistake-prone goalkeeper spent last season on loan at Elche but made just 14 appearances and lost his starting place.
Leeds are monitoring the market as they look for an experienced back-up keeper for Illan Meslier, but Marsch is keen to move the 35-year-old on and put an end to his torrid time in West Yorkshire.
The Spaniard’s contract runs until 2023, and with Leeds unlikely to receive a fee for the stopper, they have two options: Either find a suitor for a season-long loan with the option
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