Real Sociedad has decided against bringing Leeds United defender Junior Firpo back to Spain this summer and have moved on to other targets, according to Noticias de Gipuzkua.
The Spanish publication [28 July] report that Sociedad still see reinforcing their left side as a priority this summer but have moved away from Firpo due to the high cost of completing any deal, with a new need to replace the retiring David Silva in midfield after he suffered a career-ending knee injury during pre-season.
Instead, they have looked towards Tottenham left-back Sergio Reguilon who spent last season on loan with Athletico Madrid and there is a belief that any deal to bring him back to Spain would be easier than any move for Firpo.
Firpo joined the ranks at Elland Road in the summer of 2021 from Barcelona but has failed to be particularly convincing in the two seasons since, only making 19 Premier League appearances as the Whites were relegated last season.
An asset in the Championship
Like so many of Leeds United’s squad this summer, Firpo feels like he would be available, but only for the right price and it remains to be seen if anyone would be willing to pay that fee for someone who hasn’t been in great form recently.
There is an argument to say that his skills may be better put to use in England’s second tier, where he won’t have the likes of Mo Salah or Riyad Mahrez running at him, instead it will be Chuba Akpom and Andreas Weimann.
But Firpo will be viewed as a sellable asset and that is shown just by the fact the Basque club weren’t able to fund a move for his services this summer. With financial fair play restrictions looming at Elland Road, a deal which sees him depart this summer may be best for all parties.
However, for that to happen somebody will need to view him as worth the required fee and after how he performed last season, being dropped in favour often of centre-backs playing out of position, it’s hard to see anyone coughing up the money.
Whether his future lies in the Championship with Leeds, or elsewhere, Firpo is seriously going to have to improve to become anywhere near the defender most thought he could be.
