This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Whatever reason you believe why Pontus Jansson left Leeds, it’s hard to deny it wasn’t a mighty blow.
This is a defender who was a rock at the back for the Whites last season. So much so that he was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the Championship.
Executive Director Paul Bell claimed this summer that he was sold for financial fair play reasons but there was also the underlying issue of the player’s attitude.
Yet, as he faced off against his former employers on Wednesday night, certain segments of the Leeds fan base hoped he wouldn’t have abuse thrown in his direction.
It’s likely some supporters will still feel animosity towards the situation but that’s the nature of football.
Jansson was a player who Marcelo Bielsa rated as his best last term but in loaning Ben White, they’ve gone some way to finding someone to replace him, albeit for a year.
Before they met the Bees, White had completed 2.7 tackles per game whilst demonstrating his ball-playing abilities with a pass success rate of 85.6%.
Yet, there would have been one way to soften the impact of losing Jansson significantly.
Earlier last week, it was reported by Football Insider that Leeds had attempted to agree an obligation to buy with Brighton following the conclusion of White’s loan spell.
Leeds had already settled similar terms for Helder Costa, Jack Harrison and Illan Meslier this summer so it wasn’t new to the club’s hierarchy.
But try as they might, the Seagulls rejected it. Based on the performances he’s shown so far, it’s hardly a surprise.
Against Nottingham Forest he was imperious, making five tackles and three interceptions. If he continues to develop at the rate he’s shown in the opening weeks of the season, he’ll become a fine player.
He already has one quality that sets him apart from Jansson too according to Noel Whelan:
“He gives the ball and then gets back into his position. Even when there’s space there for him to drive into, he will, but then he’ll get back into his position. That, going back to Pontus Jansson, is something he wanted to do a little bit too much.”
Thogden ranks all 24 Championship away kits in the video below…
At 21, his future may lie with a Premier League side. Perhaps if Leeds go up then they can try again for a permanent deal.
However, if they stay in the same division, they may end up ruing the fact they couldn’t see eye to eye with Brighton this summer.
White has already made up for Jansson departing in some senses, but this would have gone even further in lessening the knock of losing the Swede.