“The right decision” – Carlton Palmer issues verdict on Helder Costa’s Leeds United future

Costa initially joined the Whites on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers in July 2019 before making the move permanent the following summer for a fee of £16 million.

The winger played a key role in the club’s promotion to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2019-20 campaign, scoring five goals and providing eight assists in 46 appearances in all competitions and he remained a regular in their first season back in the top flight, but he has fallen out of favour at Elland Road in recent years.

Costa spent the 2021-22 season on loan with Valencia before joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad on a temporary basis last summer and Leeds manager Daniel Farke says that the 29-year-old wants to leave the club and is not part of his plans.

“Helder, it’s clear,” Farke told the Yorkshire Post. “So we were quite open. He was quite open, at any point, he wants to leave the club and there will be a decision.

“So, more or less, from the beginning of pre-season he was not in our plans and we were not in his plan so it’s fair to think there will be a solution.”

Costa is currently training away from the rest of the Leeds squad, along with Wilfred Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra as speculation increases over their futures, while Jack Harrison has completed a loan move to Everton.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Palmer said that despite the likely exits of Gnonto and Sinisterra, it is still the correct decision to allow Costa to depart.

“Irrespective of the uncertainty surrounding Gnonto and Sinisterra, Leeds United are set to let Helder Costa leave the club before the summer transfer window closes,” Palmer said.

“It is the right decision, he clearly does not figure in Farke’s plans and has not been involved thus far this season.

Costa has won two promotions from the Championship with Wolves and Leeds and he is undoubtedly a player with huge talent, but it has not worked out for him at Elland Road and his departure would be the right decision for all parties.

The Whites are light in the attacking areas after Harrison’s exit and with Costa, Gnonto and Sinisterra not currently involved with the squad, but Farke may still be hoping to keep hold of the latter duo.

It seems unlikely that Gnonto will remain in West Yorkshire, particularly after he refused to play in the club’s previous two games, while Sinisterra appears to have taken a similar stance.

Costa is clearly keen to leave the club and Farke needs players who are fully committed as he looks to mount a challenge for an instant Premier League return, so he should not reconsider his position on the winger, regardless of what happens with Gnonto and Sinisterra.