Former Leeds United forward Noel Whelan believes Jamie Shackleton is the perfect replacement for Adam Forshaw if he leaves Elland Road this summer.
Reports have suggested that Championship newcomers Fulham are looking to sign the midfielder, who has made 44 appearances for Leeds since moving to the club from Middlesbrough back in the January 2018.
But if there proves to be substance to this transfer talk, Whelan wouldn't be too bothered if the 27-year-old left Elland Road due to Shackleton’s performances throughout the 2018/19 Championship season.
“If you are letting him go, you’ve got to have somebody in place to come and take over that role,” Whelan told Football Insider.
“Personally I’d like to retain everyone we had last season pretty much. We need to let a couple go but saying that if there’s someone that we feel we have better there, like Shackleton – I think he was a better player last season than Forshaw – we have a ready-made player there who can do Forshaw’s job.
“He would have been my first choice to come on if anybody was injured in that central area of midfield because we saw what an influence he had. He caused more problems in that area than Forshaw did.
"I would be not too bothered if Forshaw did leave because I think we’ve got somebody there that can do a better job.”
