Leeds United may have to terminate the contract of Helder Costa over the coming months to avoid paying his wages until the end of the 2023/24 campaign, according to journalist Phil Hay.
The Angolan attacker moved to Elland Road on loan at the start of the 2019/20 season before permanently signing for the club the following summer under former head coach Marcelo Bielsa. However, Costa has made merely one appearance since the beginning of the 2021/22 campaign.
The 29-year-old spent the last two seasons out on loan at Valencia and Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia under Nuno Espirito Santo, his former manager at Wolves. However, since returning, Costa has been training on his own away from the rest of the squad.
Head coach Daniel Farke confirmed this in a press conference at the end of August [quotes via The Yorkshire Post]:
“At the moment, Helder Costa, Willy Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra are training separately from the group. They have individual training in order to stay fit and to be prepared.”
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported last month that Costa would get a permanent move away from the club before deadline day, but no deal materialised.
Now, Leeds United are stuck paying Costa’s wages and will continue to do so as long as he remains under contract with the Peacocks. Nevertheless, journalist Phil Hay believes the Yorkshire club have three options with regard to handling the departure of Costa.
Speaking on The Square Ball Podcast, Hay said [quotes via Caught Offside]:
“He’s (Costa) been training on his own. There was obviously the Turkish window as well, which would’ve been an option.
“I think we all expected that he probably would go back to Saudi but nothing has developed there,” he continued.
“One of a handful of things is going to have to happen. Either they terminate his contract, or when they get round to January they find somewhere for him to go for six months so that he can burn down what’s left on his deal then move on, or he just sits tight until the end of the season and moves on as a free agent.”
Writer’s View
Terminating Costa’s contract is the right move for Leeds United at the moment or else the club will have to pay his hefty wages up until the end of the season which will be costly.
Farke’s side are in excellent form and Costa hasn’t been missed in the team so the best option for all parties is for them to mutually part ways as soon as possible.
