Leeds United set for fresh Rasmus Kristensen headache | OneFootball

It appears as though the immediate future of Leeds United right-back Rasmus Kristensen has now become clearer.

That's after a report from Football Insider claimed that AS Roma are not planning to make the Denmark international's loan move permanent in the summer transfer window.

Kristensen joined Leeds back in the summer of 2022, signing from RB Salzburg for a fee reported to be worth around £10million.

The right-back went on to make 30 appearances in all competitions for the Whites last season, scoring three goals and providing one assist.

However, he was unable to prevent the club suffering relegation from the Premier League to the Championship. He was subsequently one of a number of players to leave Elland Road in last summer's transfer window.

Kristensen's particular move saw him join Roma on a season-long loan deal. However, it now seems unlikely that his stay with the Serie A side will last beyond the end of the current campaign.

Roma not planning permanent Kristensen signing

Since making the move to Italy back in the summer, the Leeds loanee has made 29 appearances in all competitions for Roma.

In that time, he has scored one goal, helping the club to sixth place in the current Serie A standings.

He was, however, left out of their squad for this season's Europa League, in which they currently trail 2-0 to German champions Bayer Leverkusen after the first leg of their semi-final tie.

Now, this latest update has claimed that Roma will not look to sign Kristensen on a long-term basis, meaning he is set to return to Leeds at the end of this season.

However, that return could be brief, with the Whites expected to attempt to sell the 26-year-old during the summer transfer window.

Indeed, it is thought that manager Daniel Farke will show loyalty to his current squad, who secured a third place finish in the Championship standings this season.

That has guaranteed Leeds a place in the play-offs, and with it a shot at promotion, which begins when they travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich City in the first leg of their semi-final on Sunday afternoon.

There are three years remaining on Kristensen's current contract at Leeds, securing his future at Elland Road until the end of the 2026/27 season.

As a result, they will be in a strong position to respond to any interest in the 26-year-old this summer, although his limited performances over two seasons is a big problem.

Leeds have a tough call to make over Kristensen

This latest update does feel like it leaves Leeds with a rather big decision to take when it comes to the future of Kristensen.

Following his move last summer, the Dane never really settled at Elland Road, struggling to make an impact on the pitch.

Meanwhile, his decision to source a move elsewhere in the wake of relegation will not have gone down all that well off it.

With that in mind, it may have made sense for them to cash in on Kristensen in the summer window, especially given it could raise some useful funds for the club, amid questions over their Financial Fair Play situation.

However, it is also worth noting that except Kristensen, Leeds do not have a senior right-back under contract for next season as things stand.

That may mean they still need the Dane to do a job for them in that role for the 2024/25 campaign, and it would surely be a risk for them to let him go, without signing another option in that position.

As a result, it could be argued that following this update on Roma's reluctance to make a permanent move happen, Kristensen's future at Leeds United could now once again be up for a rather big debate.