Sam Greenwood will be on loan for two successive seasons following Leeds United’s relegation in 2023. For the 2023/24 season, Greenwood was on loan at fellow Championship club Middlesbrough. The deal also included a purchase option but Boro didn’t seem keen on signing the England U21 international.
After the club failed to gain promotion to the Premier League last season, Sam will be out on loan for another season. This time it will be at another Championship side Preston North End. The Lilywhites also have a purchase clause that follows Greenwood’s loan deal. If The Whites fail to secure promotion this season, they might lose the youngster to a fellow league rival.
The promotion will play a major role in this saga as almost everything will depend on The Whites’ tier status next season. The reason why Leeds loaned out the English forward in the first place was because of their finances and the lack of first-team opportunities for the youngster.
As Leeds got relegated, they had a new set of financial rules to follow which were the EFL Profitability and Sustainability Rules. This resulted in the club forcefully selling out or loaning players to balance their books. Another reason was the lack of first-team opportunities for young players.
Leeds United hoped to get back into the English top tier by the 2024/25 season. This created an environment that allowed only the best players to give their all for the club’s goals. As a result, opportunities for young players dulled in hopes of getting back into the Prem.
Can Sam Greenwood end up away from Elland Road next season?
Credits: Imago Images
Whether Sam Greenwood stays or leaves is his decision to make. But a large part of the equation will depend on Leeds United’s status next season. Whether it will be top-tier football or another season in the English Football League is yet to be decided.
Preston North End chairman Peter Ridsdale made it clear to Lancashire Post that they’ll be interested in signing the youngster if the opportunity arises.
“The deal was done and the great thing was that Sam and his dad made it absolutely clear they wanted to join us – when we met them. That was good news, getting that out of the way and we then inserted an option to purchase, should we wish, at the end of the season. That is slightly complicated, because of Sam’s personal circumstances, subject to whether Leeds get promoted.”
“If Sam loves us and we love him, the transfer fee between the two clubs is not a problem. It might become marginally more of a problem, were Leeds to be promoted – because Sam isn’t out of contract next summer.”
-Peter Ridsdale via Lancashire Post
