Leeds United January transfer target told to find new club to save international career

Former Leeds United transfer target Harry Souttar has been told to find a new club this summer by his international coach. Souttar has struggled to work his way into the Leicester City fold under Enzo Maresca this season playing just three games in the Championship for the Foxes.

His last competitive outing of any kind at club level came in December as he stepped off the bench to make a 12-minute cameo in the win over Rotherham United at the King Power Stadium. Despite his lack of game time, Leeds are thought to have made a move to take the Leicester man on loan for the remainder of the season in the closing stages of the January transfer window.

Ultimately, the deal did not materialise with Leicester digging their heels in after making it clear they were unwilling to strengthen a promotion rival, and while there was interest from other clubs, reports at the time claimed the Foxes would only sanction a permanent exit for the Australian.

Souttar's struggles for minutes hasn't impacted his standing within Graham Arnold's Australia squad yet, with the defender starting the Socceroos' 2-0 win over Lebanon this morning in Sydney. However, the coach has warned the defender that his place in the squad may be at risk should he fail to find more domestic opportunities.

“It’s his mindset and he’s so important to the (Socceroos),” Arnold said, as per Fox Sports. “And with the size of him, he’s (one of our) leading goalscorers and he’s a leader. In that (centre-back) position, he’s crucial in what we need. I know he’s going through a tough time at Leicester. I had a good chat with him today. He has to fix it.

"This can’t go on forever, but what we are doing probably at the moment is helping his career by giving him match minutes during these FIFA windows and showing what he can do, but as a side to him today, this next transfer window is going to be really crucial for him.”