Announced as a great coup by Leeds United, the arrival of Jean-Kevin Augustin was meant to be a statement of intent from the Championship side.
The former Paris Saint-Germain youngster arrived on loan from RB Leipzig, but it seems the Frenchman never took to Marcelo Bielsa’s way of thinking.
Only making three appearances under the Elland Road boss, Augustin struggled to have any impact and when the opportunity to extend his loan until the end of the season arose, Leeds didn’t take it.
Announcing the news on Wednesday, the Championship side explained they would not be renewing ties with the player, who would thus return to Leipzig.
Previous reports from Germany stated ‘there was already a lot of fear’ at Elland Road they would have to pay the hefty bill for a player they clearly don’t want, and that clause is still active.
This is according to Foot Mercato in France, who explain that, per their information, Leeds still have ‘the automatic purchase clause if they get promoted’, meaning that Augustin’s ‘English adventure might not have definitely ended’.
It wouldn’t surprise us if Bielsa and co. tried to get out of it somehow, but, as things stand, even with the loan deal not being renewed, it appears that €21m is still on course to being paid, what with Leeds currently sitting top of the Championship table and all that.
