According to SportBild, as cited by Transfermarkt, Leeds United will be forced to sign Jean-Kevin Augustin if they get promoted to the Premier League next season. The Championship league leaders had agreed on such a clause with RB Leipzig in January when the forward initially arrived on a short-term loan deal. It is believed that Leeds will have to pay €21 million to sign Augustin permanently.
How has Augustin performed at Leeds so far?
Augustin has had a rusty season so far. He initially joined AS Monaco on loan last summer before signing for Leeds United in January in another short-term loan deal.
In the Championship, the RB Leipzig forward barely had the chance to make his presence felt. He has featured in only three games for Leeds United, totalling only 48 minutes of league football. The presence of players like Jack Harrison, Helder Costa and Patrick Bamford has made it difficult for the Frenchman to make himself a regular fixture in the first-team.
It is also worth noting that Marcelo Bielsa is a stubborn manager. He rarely prefers to make radical alternations to his team week in week out, which has undoubtedly played a part in minimising Augustin’s first-team chances at Leeds.
Can Augustin make a difference in the long-term?
One of Leeds United’s biggest problems has been the lack of productivity in the final third, at least when compared to other top clubs in the Championship. Central striker Bamford is not a goalscoring forward and has thus scored only 13 league goals so far. The Whites, therefore, require a lethal number nine.
Augustin, in that regard, does not exactly fit the bill. The Frenchman is primarily known for his physical prowess and intelligent movements, which ultimately helps him create chances for his teammates. While he is more lethal than Bamford in front of goal, Augustin is not someone you can rely on, especially in the Premier League.
Verdict: Is the clause detrimental for Leeds?
Leeds United being forced to commit to signing Augustin permanently for a fee of €21 million could majorly impact their transfer business. Especially with the Coronavirus crisis, it could even prevent them from making another big-money signing in the offensive unit unless they get rid of one of their existing stars like Kalvin Phillips.
Augustin is a hard-worker, and if he can settle into the higher-paced nature of the Premier League, he can definitely make an impact under Bielsa. Overall, though, the clause in the forward’s loan deal is ultimately detrimental for Leeds United.
