As Leeds United have gone about their transfer business and picked up their first Premier League points of the new season, one big decision has continued to hang over their heads.
Jean-Kevin Augustin has not played a minute of first-team football for the Whites since mid-February, but promotion to the Premier League - coupled with the unusual conditions around the end of last season - means the club are fighting to ensure they are not left €21m out of pocket.
Augustin joined Leeds on loan from RB Leipzig in January, with an obligation to buy if Marcelo Bielsa’s team were promoted to the Premier League. Augustin struggled with injury and only made three appearances before the Championship season went on hiatus in March.
By the time the initial loan expired at the end of June, the Championship season was still going and Leeds had yet to mathematically clinch their promotion.
A dispute between Leeds and RB Leipzig has continued, with the former believing the expiry of the loan before promotion was sealed means they are not required to make the move permanent, but Leipzig’s sporting director Markus Krösche has restated his club’s position.
"The status is unchanged from the last few weeks, but the legal situation is clear," Krösche said on Wednesday, as relaid by sueddeutsche .
“When the contracts were signed back then, everyone was aware that the contracts are clear. I hope for a quick solution, because there is also a player and a person behind it.”
French under-21 striker Augustin joined RB Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 for a fee of €16m, and scored 20 goals across his first two seasons in Germany.
However, after moving to Leeds in January he made just three appearances from the bench, replacing Patrick Bamford in matches against Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Bristol City.
“Why Leeds acts the way they act, I can hardly judge. It is now our lawyers' turn,” Krösche said.
Speaking at the unveiling of new striker Alexander Sorloth, he added: "I hope our lawyers will solve the problem in the coming days.
“This is also about a human being. JK is a great guy. I'm sorry for him.”
Leeds have already spent more than £60m on new signings since July, with Rodrigo, Robin Koch and Helder Costa the most expensive recruits ahead of a first top-flight campaign since 2004.
RB Leipzig, meanwhile, have added two new forwards in the form of Hwang Hee-chan from Red Bull Salzburg and Alexander Sorloth from Crystal Palace.
Augustin signed a contract with his current employers until 2022, but has not been in a matchday squad this season, and Krösche’s comments suggest the matter may rumble on before being settled in the legal arena.
