Exclusive: Paper claims transfer record to be smashed, Bent view: ‘Leeds have to bite bullet’
Darren Bent insists that Leeds United will have to “bite the bullet” over signing Jean-Kevin Augustin if the club are promoted this season.
The former Tottenham and England forward, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, believes everyone was expecting more from the 22-year-old when he signed on loan back in January.
The RB Leipzig loanee has managed to make just three substitute appearances for Marcelo Bielsa with fitness problems curtailing his playing time at Elland Road.
German publication Bild claim that the Whites are obligated to purchase the French forward for a club-record £18.2million (€21million) if they seal promotion to the Premier League this season.
Bent suggests that Leeds would rather not sign Augustin right now but admits they might not care too much if they do pull off promotion.
Bent told Football Insider: “I’m sure Leeds, when they first did the deal, expected to get a lot more out of him than they have got.
“In that regard, they’re a little bit stuck in some respects because they expected a lot more from and for whatever reason it hasn’t happened.
“Unfortunately it might be one of those situations where Leeds have to bite the bullet, go with it and hope that he can give them something, give them something in the long run in the Premier League.
“We’ve seen his ability, we know he’s got lots of it, bags of ability, and it’s just about him getting on the pitch now. That will be a problem Leeds won’t mind worrying about if they get promoted.
“They probably don’t want to do it but at the same time they’ll be happy with it because they’re in the right division.”
In other Leeds United news, Noel Whelan has told Football Insider current distribution of TV rights money “is a disgrace” after Gary Neville comments.