Pontus Jansson’s Leeds career may be over, as Swedish newspaper Kvallsposten understand the 28-year-old has been in a dispute with Marcelo Bielsa following the climax of the Championship season.
The 6 ft 3 centre-back was one of our key players on route to securing a Play-Off Semi-Final place last term, making 39 appearances and playing a part in 13 clean sheets. He was also named in the PFA’s Team of the Year alongside his Whites partner Liam Cooper, thanks to his commanding presence, astute reading of the game and outstanding aerial ability.
However, when members of the first-team who were granted an extra weeks holiday returned to Thorp Arch for pre-season training at the start of the week, rumours emerged suggesting Jansson had been told to stay away.
It was thought the 20-cap ace had been instructed by United executives to stay away from the club’s training ground until July 12, at which point the first-team would have flown out for our pre-season tour.
The claims were unsubstantiated, but Kvallsposten have confirmed that Jansson is not in West Yorkshire, noting that he was in Skane training with former side Malmo on Tuesday.
He refused to discuss his United future with one of their reporters in place at Malmo’s training facilities, though, simply stating: “I have nothing to say,” before moving on.
Should Jansson feel his future is away from West Yorkshire due to the alleged dispute with Bielsa, there will be sure to be a queue of clubs sending representatives to meet with United executives over a potential deal.
Reports had surfaced in May that Benfica would look to trigger a rumoured £14.8million release clause in the 28-year-old’s Whites contract, while Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United and Southampton were all credited with interest.
Fulham were tipped to join the queue more recently, meanwhile, as reports emerged at the start of July suggesting the Cottagers were very keen on striking a deal, as manager Scott Parker is looking for defenders who can help stop the tidal wave of goals his London outfit shipped last term as they dropped out of the Premier League.