Leeds United winger Helder Costa has not been given a squad number this week, with the club preparing for their start to the Championship season tomorrow.
Daniel Farke inherited a side in the midst of huge changes following the club’s relegation from the Premier League in May, seeing players leave the club left, right, and centre.
More departures are on the way in August, but hopefully not those that are going to hamper his side too much in their quest for promotion.
Leeds squad numbers revealed
Saturday morning has seen the announcement of Leeds’ squad numbers for the upcoming 23/24 season, where a new-look Leeds side has brought the likes of Charlie Cresswell, Archie Gray, and even Jamie Shackleton into contention with their new numbers:
Noticeable gaps have become apparent with the lack of number seven and eight in the side, clearly in midfield where Farke wants to strengthen, while Diego Llorente’s 14 has remained vacant.
Is Helder Costa leaving?
In terms of notable absentees from the squad list here, there seems to be just one that suggests an imminent transfer is looming.
That is Helder Costa, who hasn’t been given a squad number, instead has seen his 17 stripped and given to Shackleton.
Having joined permanently in 2020 for a reported £15million fee on a four-year deal, the ex-Wolves winger is in the final year of his contract, so a third successive loan would effectively end his spell here – or he could just leave permanently too.
It was always going to happen for Costa, as much as Farke is handing out chances to the likes of Shackleton and Ian Poveda, Costa’s redemption never seemed on the cards.
Where he goes remains a mystery, but with the guidance of Jorge Mendes, he’s not going to struggle finding a move – potentially back to Saudi Arabia.
Before the summer window ends, we do needs to get him off the books, though, for his sake more than anything.