Leeds United player stuck in real Elland Road limbo after Middlesbrough call: View | OneFootball

Sam Greenwood's time at Leeds United may be coming to an end

Highlights

There are several Leeds United players with uncertain Elland Road futures ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

It's not yet known where the likes of Ilian Meslier, Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville - among others - will be strutting their stuff for August, having all rightly earned interest elsewhere in recent weeks.

The future of Sam Greenwood is also wholly uncertain at the time of writing, albeit for different reasons.

Leeds United's Sam Greenwood did not make a strong impression at Middlesbrough

Formerly of Arsenal and Sunderland at youth-team level, it was hoped that a summer loan switch to Middlesbrough would finally vindicate Greenwood's perennial promise and potential, with the deal also granting the Teessiders with an option to purchase upon conclusion.

Sure, a handful of fleeting moments did occur - the 83rd minute free-kick winner over eventual champions stands out as part of an encouraging run of form across November - but Greenwood failed to establish any real pattern of consistency at the Riverside Stadium.

Indeed, all but one of his eight total involvements for Middlesbrough came in a two-month period between October and December, with the versatile attacker only notching an assist in a 3-1 trumph over Millwall in January.

Greenwood did feature in the Reds' starting line-up for 25 of his 38 total appearances away from West Yorkshire, though that can be attributed to the limited attacking options at Michael Carrick's disposal as much as anything else.

Rather unsurprisingly - despite the argument of future potential resale value - Middlesbrough opted against making the 22-year-old's time on Teesside permanent at the end of the season, which leaves him in real limbo moving forward.

Leeds United should look to move on Sam Greenwood

The simple ultimatum is: if Greenwood wasn't deemed good enough for Middlesbrough, then how will he be good enough for Leeds?

No disrespect to Middlesbrough, of course, who will likely fancy their chances at reaching the play-offs under Carrick next term, but Leeds must challenge for automatic promotion yet again.

Bluntly, Greenwood just isn't at that level.

His remit wouldn't extend beyond that of a squad player under any circumstances, however, it is worth pointing out that strength in depth - or lack thereof - was a frequent sticking point for Leeds as the season grew on, and they'll need to remedy it if they're serious on going all the way next term.

Greenwood is capable of playing in attacking midfield and out wide, but even if Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto move on to pastures new, it's still difficult to see where Greenwood truly and viably fits in for a team expected to be in the automatic promotion hunt.

After all, it's rather telling that Jaidon Anthony - a superb prior performer at this level with Bournemouth - only started twice throughout the entirety of last season.

As far as a sale is concerned, you can imagine that there will be alternative clubs in the Championship open to investing in Greenwood's upside.