Transfers out of Leeds United were always going to dominate the agenda of a post-relegation summer. Dwindling contracts, costly wages and football at a lower level are all going to influence senior players’ close season desires.
There is another looming factor, however, which is not always a consideration for every relegated outfit each year. Euro 2024 takes place in Germany next June and the coming campaign will be the last opportunity for players to impress their countries.
There will be some players who are happy with the finances on their relegated contracts and others keen to fight for United’s return to the top flight, but those intentions may be superseded by international ambitions. Undoubtedly, national bosses will have reservations about selecting players plying their trades outside the big five European top flights.
Illan Meslier has long been trumpeted as Hugo Lloris’s successor in the France squad, but he has been having a job starting for the under-21s this month. If the 23-year-old is to have any hope of proving he is good enough to Didier Deschamps, he would need to be facing shots from the best forwards in the world.
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However remote their chances look based on last season’s performances, Junior Firpo and Marc Roca have ambitions to play for Spain next summer. The current senior manager, Luis de la Fuente, selected them both when he was in charge of the under-21s.
Rodrigo was recalled to the Spain team only this month and clearly has the best chance of making it to the tournament in 12 months. Speculation about a move to Al-Rayyan SC in Qatar this week would make financial sense for the striker, but playing in the Qatar Stars League would surely kill any hopes of an elite tournament with his country.
Robin Koch has not featured in a Germany squad since June 2021, so he will need to be playing in one of the big five leagues to turn Hansi Flick’s head. Championship football is not going to get the job done for the centre-back.
Crysencio Summerville and Jack Harrison seem to be some distance from their respective, senior national teams, but they are sure to know Championship football muddies the water even further on their chances. Rasmus Kristensen had initially been left out of Denmark’s squad during the March international break before a U-turn drafted him in after the first announcement.
The right-back will know his place is far from secure in that Euro 2024 squad, which may be why the Roma transfer rumour is building traction. Wilfried Gnonto and Max Wober seem like safer bets with Austria and Italy, which could be why United feel they have a good chance of keeping them both at the club.
