This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has urged the Whites not to sign striker Jean-Kevin Augustin on a permanent deal, in an interview with Football Insider, after the loanee striker has failed to make any real impact so far at Elland Road since his arrival from RB Leipzig in January,

Whelan thinks to sign him permanently would represent a ‘huge mistake’ with the 22-year-old having only made three substitute appearances with manager Marcelo Bielsa not convinced he is up to the fitness levels required for the weekly challenge of Championship football.

So is Whelan right, that Augustin should not be offered a permanent deal at Elland Road?

We discuss.........

Ben Crump

"It is a little bit harsh to judge Augustin and his time at Leeds thus far, but you would have to say that a permanent move would come as a surprise.

"The French striker has barely featured for Leeds and it is unlikely Bielsa will trust him in the Premier League next season.

"Augustin does have talent, hence his arrival at Elland Road and interest from other clubs - but it does seem that English football has been a level too big for him.

"Leeds’ reported interest in other targets also puts a deal in doubt with the likes of Rhian Brewster being linked of late."

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Ben Lang

"It would be fair to say that Augustin has not quite lived up to expectation since joining Leeds in January, but a large part of this should be owed to his fitness struggles rather than his inability to adapt to life at Elland Road.

"However, Augustin remains a top player despite his struggles to get going at the club and Leeds should try basing their decision on a permanent signing on the striker's overall ability as opposed to his performances over the last two months.

"An important factor should also be the fact that Augustin has not yet had a pre-season under Bielsa, and this may be part of the reason why he has not quite settled into the Leeds squad given Bielsa's high demands of his players.

"It is possible that Leeds took the decision to sign Augustin in preparation for next season rather than this campaign and this is why a permanent deal for the striker should still be very much on the table this summer, but it is important the Whites also make further attacking recruitments in addition."

Toby Wilding

"I do think Whelan has something of a point here.
"Augustin simply hasn't lived up to any sort of expectation since his arrival at Elland Road, and that isn't going to help his case if he is looking to secure a permanent deal at Leeds.
"Indeed, when you look at the amounts that have been quoted for the Yorkshire club to make the deal a long-term one, it does seem as though it would be a big financial risk for them to make this move a long-term one, based on what he has or hasn't shown.
"That being said, it should of course be noted that Augustin's past roll of clubs is an impressive one, which does suggest there may still be potential within the striker for Leeds to exploit, if they can just get him fit enough between now and the end of the season, meaning this is one that may not be worth giving up on entirely just yet."