Gabby Agbonlahor has predicted that Leeds United will be relegated and stay down in the Championship when their squad is picked apart.
Leeds are 18th in the Premier League table and could be all-but relegated come tomorrow evening if results don’t go their way.
In the event of relegation, Leeds’ squad is likely to get picked apart, with players like Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha not short of suitors.
Speaking on talkSPORT, as quoted by Leeds Live, Agbonlahor predicted relegation for Leeds, who are facing a big injury and suspension list.
Alongside that, he’s said that the vultures will pick off their best talent and leave them with a squad that’s not good enough to come straight back up.
“They’ve lost now Ayling, Dallas, Dan James, Bamford probably won’t play again. That’s probably like three out of five of their best players. The rest of the team is probably a Championship team. I don’t think they will get another point this season. I think Burnley and Everton won’t have to get another point.
“And the biggest problem with Leeds is that there are going to be teams queuing up to sign Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, even Dallas. They’re going to be left with a Championship squad that won’t be good enough to come straight back up.”
Who goes down?
Everton
Leeds
Burnley
Leeds might well go down. They aren’t playing well and there’s every chance that their fate will be sealed by the final day if they don’t pick up anything against Brighton.
Agbonlahor is also right in that Phillips and Raphinha will be picked off. Others, too.
However, to claim that Leeds won’t be left with a squad to come back up is a little bit premature.
We are talking about players that, despite relegation, will still command a significant fee for their service, which Leeds could reinvest.
Mix that with some of the youngsters coming through like Charlie Cresswell and Joe Gelhardt and you’d hope Leeds would be competitive.
That’s a long way away yet and various things have to fall into place. Yet, Agbonlahor’s claim does feel premature.
Quiz: Have these 15 current Leeds United players scored more or less than 10 goals for the club?