For the second year running it looks like Leeds United will miss out on the Sky Bet Championship’s play-offs, with Paul Heckingbottom’s side sitting six points adrift of the top-six heading into the final 12 fixtures of the season.
This season’s collapse might not have been dramatic as last year’s collapse, but it is still one that is hard to take for Leeds’ supporters, who long for a Premier League return for a 14th consecutive year.
When comparing last year to this year, it is fair to say that the squad Heckingbottom has available to him isn’t as good as the group of players Garry Monk had last year.
One notable absentee is Kyle Bartley, who following a successful loan spell at Elland Road last year, returned to Swansea City.
There are still plenty of Leeds’ supporters who want to see Bartley return to Elland Road, with the 26-year-old still a hugely popular figure at LS11.
Here at FLW, we take a look at TWO pros and TWO cons of the defender returning…
Bartley and Jansson were phenomenal for Leeds last season in the Championship, and it is safe to say that the latter hasn’t looked the same player without Bartley alongside him.
The duo were the backbone of Leeds’ side last season under Monk, and partnering them together again next year would give Leeds a solid base to work from.
Bartley is a Premier League defender, and in the Championship, he would walk into most sides.
If Leeds can get hold of the 26-year-old early in the summer transfer window, it would send out a huge statement to the rest of the Championship.
Bartley arriving would show Leeds mean business.
Bartley signed a long-term contract with Swansea in the summer, and if he was to depart, he wouldn’t come cheap.
Under Andrea Radrizzani, Leeds have been cautious with their money and splashing out £5m+ on a central defender hasn’t been the club’s style for some time now.
Bartley showed last season that he is more than capable of performing under pressure at Elland Road, but players returning to their former clubs are always at risk of underwhelming second time round.
If Leeds splashed out the money on Bartley and he failed to deliver, the club would be left with egg on their face.