How much Leeds United are selling Sam Greenwood for - it might shock Middlesbrough & Preston | OneFootball

Boro and North End failed to see the best version of Greenwood in loan spells away from Elland Road

Leeds United are set to bank a significant seven-figure sum in the sale of Sam Greenwood to Pogon Szczecin of the Polish Ekstraklasa - a deal which is likely to stun the supporters of Middlesbrough and Preston North End who failed to see the best version of the forward.

Greenwood has struggled to assert himself as a first-team regular ever since moving to Elland Road from Arsenal following United's Championship title-winning season under Marcelo Bielsa in 2019/20, leading to two loan spells at the Riverside Stadium and Deepdale in the past two seasons as Leeds returned to the EFL for a two-season stint.

However, those in the North East and East Lancashire failed to see on the pitch exactly why the Sunderland-born attacker was recruited by Michael Carrick and Ryan Lowe at their respective clubs, leaving him with next-to-no future in West Yorkshire as Leeds continued to bolster their formidable second-tier attack which netted 95 goals last season with the signings of Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Greenwood had been the subject of transfer speculation earlier in the window, and is now set to embark on a maiden move across the continent for the first time in his career, although many associated with the Whites, Boro and Preston will be largely surprised by the fee which has been touted.

Sam Greenwood's underwhelming loan stints at Middlesbrough and Preston North End

After making his Premier League bow for Leeds in December 2021 and a further 24 top-flight appearances which yielded one goal in a dramatic 4-3 home victory against AFC Bournemouth 10 months later, Greenwood's first loan stint away from LS11 saw him link up with Carrick's side in August 2023.

The former Manchester United midfielder described the former Arsenal youngster as a "really talented player" who could offer his side "greater flexibility."

However, despite making 38 appearances in the Championship for the Reds, six of his eight goal contributions would come in an eight-game purple patch, with his standout moment on Teesside being a remarkable long-range free-kick against eventual champions, Leicester City.

Greenwood then moved across the M62 to Preston just weeks before Ryan Lowe departed just one game into last season, with the Liverpudlian once again offering an overly positive verdict on what the attacker could bring to the Deepdale table.

"He’s a great footballer with quality with his left and right foot, and his set pieces are excellent too," Lowe declared.

Ironically, Greenwood's time with the Lilywhites under Lowe and Paul Heckingbottom saw him accumulate the exact same return of goals and assists in the same number of games, as well as being notoriously sent off against Blackburn Rovers on home turf after a tackle on Lewis Baker.

Therefore, with his best spells in campaigns often coming in streaks, it remains to be seen whether Greenwood can improve his overall game out in Poland for the side which also has former Hull City winger, Kamil Grosicki, among their ranks.

Middlesbrough and Preston North End supporters may be bewildered by Sam Greenwood transfer fee amid Leeds United, Pogon agreement

Given the aforementioned form which the forward has endured in recent times, Preston and Middlesbrough supporters may be questioning why the Polish club have parted with a sum of €4m for Greenwood's services as per Fabrizio Romano, regardless of the potential he can still fulfil at the age of 23.

This comes just weeks after he was reportedly of interest to newly-relegated Leicester City prior to the Foxes' appointment of Marti Cifuentes, as well as his hometown club Sunderland, who have become synonymous with recruiting and developing British and European talents before selling them on for significant profits.

It remains to be seen if Greenwood becomes a hit at the Florian Krygier Municipal Stadium over time, with Robert Kolendowicz's side agreeing a three-year deal with the option of a fourth for the Leeds man. If he is to improve his overall game in Poland, then who knows? Maybe we could see him back in the Championship in a handful of years.