Three, it does appear, is the magic number.
That’s how many seasons that Leeds defender Lewie Coyle will now have spent on loan. There’s nothing particularly strange about a young player being sent out that many times, in fact Chelsea defender Tomas Kalas was sent out to five different clubs before finally being sold to Bristol City.
However, this one has a little bit of a twist to it, because Coyle has been sent to Fleetwood Town, for the third consecutive season.
Again, this isn’t something new in football.Thibaut Courtois spent three years on loan at Atletico Madrid before eventually making his debut for Chelsea, but it is still incredibly rare to see someone on loan for that long at one club.
It’s getting to a stage now where you start to wonder why Fleetwood don’t just go and buy the 23-year-old defender. At £250k he’s not exactly going to cost a fortune even for a League One club – if they’re that desperate for him they’ll find a way.
That seems to be the sentiment among the Leeds United fans, so flabbergasted were they to see this deal go through for the third time, they’re basically at a stage of washing their hands of him…
Loan signing again
— ???????? (@sam_kpgoat) July 5, 2019
July 2031
We can confirm 35 year old right back, Lewie Coyle has joined Fleetwood on loan until January 2032, Good luck Lewie.
— Luke Maloney (@Luke_Maloneyy) July 5, 2019
Poor bloke another season with Joey Barton!
— Barney ™ (@BarneyStuart21) July 5, 2019
He’s going to play his full career on loan at Fleetwood
— Nathan Wilson (@nathan10wilson) July 5, 2019
why not just sell him at this point
— Lucas Gibson (@LucasG1998) July 5, 2019
Quite strange that we sell Halme and probably Wilks but only get loans for Coyle, poor lad needs a permanent move at his age now. Unless no one wants to buy?? ????????♂️
— Lloyd Sutcliffe (@sutty_room333) July 5, 2019
What’s the point, just get rid permanently if we have no plans for the kid
— Michael (@HoystyM) July 5, 2019
Getting stupid now, view to permanent should be a must he probably there longest serving player
— 2019 Leeds United (@2019LeedsUnited) July 5, 2019