Daniel Farke has revealed that Leeds United will not receive support for their January transfer fund after Helder Costa was confirmed to leave Elland Road on Friday.
The Whites confirmed on their official website (6 October) that they have agreed to mutually terminate Costa’s contract at the club, calling time on his three-year career in West Yorkshire.
The 29-year-old, whose contract ran to the end of this campaign, has spent the past two seasons on loan at Valencia in Spain and Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia and hasn’t featured for the club for over two years.
In his Friday press conference, ahead of Saturday’s crucial Championship clash against Bristol City at Elland Road (7 October), Farke confirmed (as shared by journalist Adam Pope on his Twitter account) that Costa’s departure does not mean a boost to his January kitty.
While the Whites may not be receiving any sort of funds for Costa’s exit from Elland Road, it’s news which will come as a huge sigh of relief to Farke and the Leeds United faithful.
The Angolan international, who spent last season on loan with Al-Ittihad informed Farke that he wanted to leave the club [LeedsLive, 7 September] with the Whites also long desiring the same outcome [Phil Hay, August 18] and this decision was certainly inevitable.
LeedsLive reported on 7 September that Farke didn’t see the Angolan as part of his first-team plans at Elland Road this season and that had been abundantly clear for a long while now, with Costa failing to establish himself at the club ever since Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure.
There wasn’t much interest in the Angolan over the summer, though, after he scored just three goals in 18 appearances while on loan in the Saudi Pro League last season which certainly led to him staying in West Yorkshire
Given his persona non-gata status at the club, it wouldn’t have made sense for him to wait around until the January window.
Leeds United simply had to get rid now and they’ve done just that. Regardless of whether any transfer boost comes in or not, it’s a great decision in which both parties can now finally move on.
