Why Leeds United parting ways with Lewie Coyle would be a win-win

According to claims from The Athletic reporter Phil Hay (h/t Football League World), Leeds United prospect Lewie Coyle could be set for a permanent departure from Elland Road when the transfer window reopens in January, with Fleetwood Town regarded as an ideal destination for the youngster. 

The 24-year-old right-back is currently serving his third consecutive loan spell at Fleetwood Town in the League One from Leeds United.

Born in Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, Lewie Coyle rose through the youth ranks of Leeds United before making his senior professional debut for the Whites as a late substitute in a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest in the 2015-16 season. 

Having made 13 senior appearances for Leeds in his debut season, Coyle followed it up with another 10 in the following campaign but he hasn’t featured for his boyhood club since the last day of the 2016-17 season under Garry Monk. 

However, the right-back has clocked up a total of 110 appearances for Fleetwood Town across all competitions over the course of three different loan spells, registering a tally of 14 assists so far. 

Coyle’s consistent displays in the third-tier under the stewardship of Joey Barton do suggest that he has made significant strides towards fulfilling his potential. 

Having started each of the Trawlermen’s first 15 fixtures in the League One this term, the 24-year-old has played every minute of the club’s campaign so far, with Barton’s side currently placed 8th in the standings.

Meanwhile, things are also looking bright at Elland Road, with Leeds placed third in the standings, just a couple of points behind pace-setters West Brom.

However, a possible return to the first-team fold for Lewie Coyle seems tough, with Marcelo Bielsa relying on the likes of Luke Ayling, Jamie Shackleton, Stuart Dallas and Gaetano Berardi. 

Verdict

To put things into perspective, parting ways with Coyle permanently during the mid-season trading period would be a fair settlement for all parties involved. 

At Fleetwood Town, Coyle is playing for a promotion-chasing team and, most importantly, he can play regularly. Honing his skills with regular minutes away from his parent club has helped the right-back evolve.

More Leeds United News

• Why veteran David Stockdale is worth a punt for Leeds United
• Why Leeds United should try and win the race for Daniel Ayala
• Why Glen Kamara would be a massive coup for Leeds United

Suffice to say, Leeds United retaining Lewie Coyle doesn’t make a lot of sense. With that in mind, they need to make it a point to cash in on the academy prospect when the transfer window reopens in January.