Leeds United full-back Niall Huggins has been told he’s free to leave the club, according to Football Insider.
The lowdown
The 20-year-old only signed a new contract at Elland Road last December, seemingly tying him down until 2023.
The Welsh Under-21 international has made one senior appearance, coming off the bench for the final 37 minutes of the 4-2 Premier League defeat to Arsenal in February. He also played 17 Premier League 2 Division Two matches for the under-23s last season, scoring twice and providing one assist.
Primarily playing at left-back, the prospect can line out anywhere across the defence and even throughout the midfield (Transfermarkt).
After a 4-1 victory for the Leeds youngsters against Burnley in January, former Whites left-back Ian Harte hailed Huggins as ‘fantastic’.
The latest
Leeds have apparently decided that Huggins doesn’t have what it takes to force his way into the first team. As a result, he’s been urged to find a new club during the summer transfer window.
Transfermarkt value the 20-year-old at just £180,000 despite his contract extension in recent months.
The verdict
The report describes the news as a ‘bitter blow’ for Huggins, and it’s hard to disagree. Just six months ago, Leeds seemed to indicate that he was an important part of their future by handing him a new deal.
With fellow left-back Ezgjan Alioski just days away from reaching the end of his contract, the young Welsh talent may even have sensed an opportunity to make a step up to more regular first team contention.
Instead, this has the air of a decision that Leeds could come to regret if the 20-year-old can go on to prove himself in the men’s game elsewhere and the Whites find themselves short of full-backs at some point next season.
In other news, this Leeds man is being eyed by a Serie A outfit.