Under Daniel Farke, Sam Greenwood was not expected to see much action, but the loan deal with Middlesbrough could come back to haunt the club.
Sam Greenwood was not expected to see much action under Daniel Farke, but the loan deal with Middlesbrough could come back to haunt the club.
Several big earners and big-money signings from last year were allowed to leave, primarily due to relegation release clauses, but new head coach Daniel Farke was allowed to strengthen his squad – primarily with players at the pinnacle of their abilities.
The final third was perhaps the area that required the least amount of work, as United were able to retain Wilfried Gnonto, Crysencio Summerville, Dan James, and Georginio Rutter among others, but they still added Joel Piroe to their ranks to further strengthen that part of the pitch.
As a result, Sam Greenwood, a player who appeared 23 times in all competitions for the Whites last season, was pushed further down the pecking order.
Several big earners and big-money signings from last season were allowed to leave, primarily due to relegation release clauses, but new head coach Daniel Farke was allowed to strengthen his squad – primarily with players at the top of their game.
United were able to retain Wilfried Gnonto, Crysencio Summerville, Dan James, and Georginio Rutter among others in the final third, but they still added Joel Piroe to their ranks to further strengthen that part of the pitch.
As a result, Sam Greenwood, who appeared 23 times for the Whites in all competitions last season, was pushed further down the pecking order.
Sam Greenwood is doing well for Middlesbrough.
And, after failing to start in his first four appearances under Carrick, Greenwood finally got his first league start against Cardiff City in early October, and he has remained in the 11 since – primarily on the left side of a 4-2-3-1.
Greenwood is certainly warming up on Teesside, with four goals in his previous six games, and he let everyone know what he was all about with a stunning free-kick winner against Leicester City this past weekend.
Greenwood could use some assists and more dribbles in his game, but as long as he’s scoring goals on a regular basis, Boro fans are likely to be pleased.
But did Leeds United make a mistake, not by loaning Greenwood out in the first place, but by including a very low option fee in the agreement?
How much can Middlesbrough pay Leeds United to sign Sam Greenwood?
Middlesbrough can activate a clause to sign Greenwood for £1.5 million at the end of the season, which seems very low for a 21-year-old with his qualities on the ball, according to The Athletic in early October.
Greenwood is currently demonstrating that he is a lethal goalscorer when given the time and space, and there is clearly plenty of room for him to develop and return to the Premier League, where he could play regularly.
With Leeds agreeing to that kind of fee, it suggests that Greenwood has no future at Elland Road, which is surprising given that he had plenty of chances last season.
It made sense to send Greenwood out on loan for the season in order for him to return to West Yorkshire a better player for whatever league Leeds are in next season and for them to re-evaluate his situation.
Middlesbrough, on the other hand, may have a potential steal on their hands and a player who, in time, could be worth eight figures.
Leeds, on the other hand, need not be concerned – the fee agreed upon is perhaps a little low, but in Piroe they have a player in fine form occupying Greenwood’s role, with Gelhardt and Ian Poveda also capable of playing there.
To cope with Greenwood’s for the time being temporary departure, United have plenty of attacking talent out wide and in the number nine slot – they’ll just have to hope that if Boro and United are in the same division next season and his move to the Riverside is made permanent, he doesn’t come back to haunt his former club.
