Leo Hjelde does not have a relegation release clause in his contract and Leeds United are “not presently open” to his departure, according to Graham Smyth.
The Yorkshire Evening Post journalist reported on the newspaper’s website on 15 August that the Whites are “aware” of “continued interest” from Salernitana being reported in Italy, but a “move is not considered to be imminent” for the 19-year-old who has started two out of the three games so far this season under Daniel Farke.
Norwegian Hjelde, who spent the second half of season on loan with Rotherham United, is currently “battling it out” with Sam Byram at left-back, with the returning former academy product given the start in the 1-0 defeat to Birmingham (12 August) as yet another exit-linked player, Junior Firpo, is again out injured.
Sky Italy’s Gianluca Di Marzio had reported via his website on 14 August that Hjelde and Salernitana were “very close” and the Serie A side wanted to close a deal “soon”.
Hold on
With Farke on the brink of losing players left, right, and centre at the moment it will come as some relief that Hjelde joins Willy Gnonto as one of the few that the club have the power to keep.
Unlike the Italian attacker, who has now missed two games as he seeks a move away, there isn’t an indication that the defender is minded to do the same currently.
And while Byram’s cheap addition has proven very useful so far, and the 29-year-old may be slightly ahead in the left-back rotation already, neither are specialist left-backs and the position is, as ever, a potential issue.
Leeds United can’t afford to lose an option there right now, with even Firpo’s return from injury unlikely to inspire great confidence.
Farke came within hours of adding another new full-back in Max Aarons only to be hijacked by Bournemouth when he had already arrived at Thorp Arch, but he, like Byram, is primarily a right-back.
Pascal Struijk filled in on the left for much of last season under Jesse Marsch and was serviceable but unless the club can land a new starter going forward they can ill afford to let one of the current stand-ins walk unless a very attractive offer is put on the table.
In other Leeds United news, a star man the club may be powerless to stop now has clubs from three of Europe’s top leagues queueing up to take him off their hands.
