Leeds United loanee Lewis Baker has returned to parent club Chelsea, according to reports from Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay.

The 23-year-old arrived at Elland Road in the summer with high expectations, after impressing out on loan at promotion rivals Middlesbrough last season.

But since his loan move from Stamford Bridge, the midfielder has made just five starts in all competitions for the Whites, with only two of those coming in the league campaign thus far.

Reports have now surfaced that the 23-year-old has now returned to the London club, with a loan move to another second tier side set to materialise imminently - with the division's strugglers Reading reportedly plotting a move for the midfielder.

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa has tried to use Baker as a replacement for attacking midfielder Samu Saiz in recent weeks, but the former has really failed to settle down at Elland Road, and will now look to improve elsewhere.

The Whites currently sit at the top of the Sky Bet Championship table, four points clear of the automatic promotion places despite losing their last two league games.

The Verdict

This hardly comes as a surprise to Leeds fans - Baker just hasn't made the impact he would have initially liked to at Elland Road this season.

What would worry me, if I was a Leeds fan, would be that it's another player leaving meaning it's another body unavailable for Leeds.

They don't have the greatest of squad depth by any means, so it's a fairly risky call by Bielsa.