Junior Firpo, a Dominican fullback who is nearing the end of his Elland Road contract, has been asked by Leeds United to be let go this summer.
The West Yorkshire team will need to offload players in order to make up for any losses incurred since they were unable to qualify for the Premier League. The remaining £73 million of the club’s £190 million credit must be paid before the end of the month. Red Bull’s minority investment in the team has undoubtedly provided a much-needed cash boost, but Leeds still has to make some space in the pay budget.
Crysencio Summerville is the most well-known name connected to leaving Leeds United this summer. The Dutchman has been the target of several Premier League teams, and his continued employment with the squad has always depended on Daniel Farke’s team defeating Southampton in the play-off final—something they haven’t done.
However, there are some players who have been left over from the club’s time in the top-flight that are on massive salaries and may be shown the exit door before the new season commences. The likes of Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen still remain on the club’s books.
Another of the players hanging on from the side’s time in the Premier League is Firpo. The wide defender moved to Leeds from Spanish giants Barcelona back in 2021 for a reported £13 million. Unlike the others, Firpo went down with the ship, making 33 appearances under Farke last season and recording eight assists.
Nevertheless, former goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes that the board need to sell Firpo this summer to avoid losing him for free in 12 months time, which won’t allow them to recoup any of the money they spent on him three years ago. Speaking to MOT Leeds News, Robinson said [quotes via Football League World]:
“It’s a difficult one because a player is in control when he’s got 12 months left on his contract.
“If the club can’t move him on, and he’s not going to sign a new contract and potentially leave on a free next summer, it’s not good for the club. The club need to get this sorted.
The value of him staying for another season and helping the club get back to the Premier League, will he have that much impact in a Championship season that it’s worth the financial miss on selling him this summer? Is he replaceable? Yes, he’s replaceable.
“If he’s not going to stay beyond 12 months and is looking to leave on a free, you cash in now.
“If he’s made it clear that he doesn’t want to stay and doesn’t want to stay any longer than next summer, you cash in and get what you can now because he’s not going to have that big of a part in a Premier League push.”
Writer’s View
Having been signed for £13 million back in 2021, Firpo now holds a market value of merely £4.2 million. If Leeds United don’t sell him this summer, or can’t find a buyer to take him off their hands, this figure will drop to nothing in a year’s time.
The Dominican Republic international could still be a useful player for the Whites next season but he is said to be on £60,000 per week, as per Capology, which is far too high for a club in the Championship to pay, particularly as parachute payments are reduced as of the next campaign.
