Leeds United are linked with a move for Middlesbrough forward Ashley Fletcher. The striker signed for Boro last year only but has spent this season on loan with Sunderland. The Black Cats are going down to League one and Fletcher will surely like to move away from them as he will have hopes of playing in higher divisions.
The Peacocks are having an average season as they are fighting to stay in the top half of the table. They are currently on 57 points and are sitting at the 12th spot. They will be facing Norwich City in their next game and the Canaries are right on their heels as they are on the 13th spot and are only behind on goal difference.
Middlesbrough are in a good position to secure a berth for the playoffs as Tony Pulis’s side are currently fifth. They have decent striking options upfront like Britt Assombalonga and Patrick Bamford. As a result, Fletcher was sent on loan in the January transfer window to Sunderland to get some regular playing time.
Ashley Fletcher has previously played under current Leeds manager Heckingbottom. Both of them were together in 2016 with Barnsley when the forward was on loan from Manchester United. Heckingbottom tried to bring him on loan again but he was snapped up by the Teessiders. In an interview the Whites manager tried to explain how he was willing to bring him, he said,-”I would have loved to sign Ashley. But we would have needed massive help from West Ham to get him on loan.
He further added-”He actually phoned me and said,Boro have just bid £7m for me’ and he was still, like, ‘What do I do?’ I said, ‘Get yourself there.’“That is what we are competing against. We would have loved to have had Fletch back here and I know he would have loved to have come.”
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It seems clear that the Whites manager is keen on reuniting with the forward as he highly rates him. However, to lure him at Leeds could be the big task for the manager as Middlesbrough are in with a chance for promotion to the Premier League. If that happens it is highly unlikely that Fletcher will leave the chance of being back in the Premier League. However, one cannot count the move out as there seems to be a good personal relationship between the two.
