"The right call" - Leeds United backed over imminent player exit | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer believes that allowing Rasmus Kristensen to leave on loan again is the right call from Leeds United.

Despite Leeds United not acquiring any immediate fee for Rasmus Kristensen's departure to Eintracht Frankfurt, Carlton Palmer believes they have made the right decision to let him go again this summer.

The Denmark international, who was part of their squad for Euro 2024, joined the Whites in the summer of 2022, but he would endure a tough first season in English football as the side were relegated from the Premier League.

Leeds paid a reported £10 million to sign the former Red Bull Salzburg full-back, but he left to link up with Diego Llorente and Jose Mourinho at AS Roma on loan, making use of a clause in his contract like many others in the summer of 2023.

Kristensen had been scheduled to return to Leeds for pre-season alongside Max Wöber, but it appears another move could be on the cards for the right-back, as journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed that he is a target for the Bundesliga outfit while Florian Plettenberg has reported that concrete talks have been held over a move to the Europa League side.

He wouldn't be the only option at right-back to depart the club in recent months, with Archie Gray making the switch to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal thought to be worth £40 million. Connor Roberts, meanwhile, has returned to his parent club Burnley, whilst both Jamie Shackleton and Luke Ayling were released on the expiration of their contracts. Cody Drameh is also a free agent, having failed to come to an agreement with Leeds regarding a new contract.

Not only that, but the fact Leeds have been attempting to sign Sheffield United’s Jayden Bogle suggests they were not expecting Kristensen to stick around in West Yorkshire this summer. He looks set to join the German club on a season-long loan deal, with an option-to-buy for €15 million.

Carlton Palmer's reaction to Ramus Kristensen transfer reveal

Ex-England international and former Leeds man Carlton Palmer believes the Whites are making the right decision with Kristensen leaving on another loan deal this summer, even if they would have ideally sold the right-back.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, he said: "Leeds are currently willing to let Rasmus Kristensen leave the club.

"They would prefer for him to leave in a permanent deal, but they also just want to get him off the wage bill, as he's not in Daniel Farke's first-team plans.

"The 27-year-old is set to sign for Eintracht Frankfurt. It was also reported in July that Midtjylland were keen to sign the player, who spent last season on loan with AS Roma. "Leeds are right to just want him off their wage bill. The figure that's been mooted is €15 million, but I believe Leeds will take as little as £8 million to get him out. "It's the right move if he's not in Farke's plans. There's no point having players at the club who are just not part of your planning. "That frees up money to bring in other players you want. It also helps Leeds, who have sold Archie Gray this summer and will lose other players. What it means is they don't fall into any FFP/PSR fines or whatever [other possible sanctions]. "Even if they can't get him out on a permanent move, then they may as well let him on loan. "It's believed that the deal is a loan with the view to a €15 million exit.

"It's the right call for Leeds United."

Not only could Kristensen not keep the West Yorkshire outfit in the Premier League, but he was one of the signings who struggled most, starting the campaign at right-back before Ayling displaced him. Kristensen started 25 games in all competitions for the club and struggled to emerge with much credit.

Farke's side are extremely depleted at the back in terms of options, and Kristensen’s return to Elland Road from loan was perhaps a possibility due to that. Physically, he has the ability to compete. He could be deployed as either a right-back, and has briefly appeared as a centre-back in the latter stages of 2022/23, too.

However, he struggled with the intensity and defensive fundamentals in the Premier League and there's no telling how exactly he would have translated to second tier football. He was one of the Whites' biggest disappointments of that relegation season after signing in the hope of being the club's long-term solution at right-back.