Leeds United have a huge summer rebuild ahead of them as manager Paul Heckingbottom begins to stamp his own mark upon the squad at Elland Road.
The failings of former boss Thomas Christiansen are clear for all to see and changes must be made to cut free the deadwood and adopt a fresh approach to recruitment that will see the club sustain a consistent push for play-off football.
‘Hecky’ will already be drawing up a long list of targets now that the season is all but over for the West Yorkshire side and he must also begin to consider exactly who he should release from his current options.
There have been many who have failed to meet expectations but the manager should consider loan deals instead of a permanent exile for this trio who could grow to offer the club something in the coming seasons with a year away from Elland Road under their belts…
The young Dutchman hasn’t had it all his own way since his switch from the Netherlands in the summer, failing to make a league start and scoring just once in his massive fifteen substitute appearances.
However, the striker hasn’t proven an unmitigated disaster, showing signs of talent and improvement as the year has progressed and it would be interesting to see how he performs lower down the football pyramid.
Marcus Antonsson has thrived in League One with Blackburn Rovers this year and Grot needs a similar spell away to adapt to the demands of the English football and grow into his own game, so a season-long loan switch to the division below must be sourced for the striker who could return to Elland Road with renewed vigour the following season.
The young shot-stopper needs to be given an opportunity to play regular first-team football in the Football League as he has the potential to become the number one at the club in the coming years.
Unlikely to dislodge Felix Wiedwald as of yet and with Hecky sure to source an alternative option in the summer, the path to the starting spot appears a bumpy one and Peacock-Farrell could learn a lot whilst learning his trade in the competitive reaches of the third or fourth tier.
The experience of coming up against a burly striker such as Adebayo Akinfenwa of Wycombe or Lincoln’s Matt Rhead is something not on offer at Championship level and one that would take the ambition keeper’s game to the next level.
The 21-year-old Irishman has made a handful of first-team appearances this term but regular action in front of the Elland Road crowd is not quite within reach of the player just yet.
New centre-halves are expected in the summer which will push Shaughnessy further down the pecking order, so a loan move appears to be the correct decision for all parties.
The youngster is undeniably talented and possesses all of the traits to become a solid second tier player in the future but he needs that edge of experience to begin to challenge for a regular berth.
League One sides would queue up for his signature and he could bring his adventures back to the Whites in the following season to continue his quest for the number one spot.
Leeds fans, thoughts?