Leeds plan for Douglas revealed when Blackburn loan ends – Sources
Leeds United are planning to offload Barry Douglas in the summer regardless of his performances, Football Insider has learned.
The Scotland international, 31, is out of contract at the end of the season when his loan spell at Blackburn Rovers expires.
A Leeds source has told Football Insider that the club are not looking to offer Douglas a new deal and will instead allow him to become a free agent.
Marcelo Bielsa admires the left-back’s left-footed deliveries but does not believe he has the energy and zip to thrive at Premier League level.
It is the same conclusion that Douglas’ former Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo came to when he sold the player to Leeds at the end of his club’s 2017-18 promotion campaign.
That came as a surprise at the time following the defender’s assist-laden campaign that helped Wolves dominate the Championship.
Douglas was hailed as transformative signing for Leeds but failed to live up to his billing.
He suffered injuries and mixed form at Elland Road and had dropped to third choice left-back behind converted wingers Stuart Dallas and Ezgjan Alioski at the start of this season.
The Scot was loaned out for the season to Championship outfit Blackburn in a deal revealed last October by Football Insider.
He has started 16 of their Championship matches this season including 11 of the past 13 in the competition.
The one-time Scotland international is likely to be the subject of multiple offers from second-tier clubs when he’s a free agent.
In other news, Leeds United have edged ahead of rivals in transfer race as agent talks held.