"I'm very surprised" - Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit reacts to big Manor Solomon development involving Leeds United, Marseille | OneFootball

The winger could end up snubbing the Whites this summer.

Leeds United would be "gutted" to see Manor Solomon join another club this summer, according to Lee Hendrie, amid reports that he may join French side Marseille.

A deal that would see the Israeli winger's stay at Elland Road turn from a temporary to a permanent one seemed like it would be Leeds' easiest bit of business this summer. Solomon has reportedly been told by his parent club, Tottenham Hotspur, that he is free to leave the club this summer and that he'd said yes to a move to the Whites.

Spurs are after £20 million for the 25-year-old, according to TBR Football, but Leeds are by no means alone in their interest. Marseille are keen on the winger, who has given the green light to a move to the French club, as per Sacha Tavolieri.

Manor Solomon miss would be a sore pill for Leeds United to swallow

It would be a huge blow for Leeds to not have Solomon and his Premier League experience back at Elland Road next season, according to Sky Sports pundit Hendrie, who spoke exclusively to Football League World.

"Another player that's had a really good season, Manor Solomon. He came in on loan and has reportedly given the green light to Marseille. Is this a blow for Leeds? Yes, it is," Hendrie stated.

"When he first came into the football club, he wasn't starting games, he was a bit-part, and when he did play it took him a while to really find his feet. Reports say that he actually loved being there, his family and whatnot. It really does surprise me that he's thinking of Marseille.

"Look Marseille are a big football club, but with the football club being promoted this season, Leeds, and such a big football club with such big ambitions, I'm very surprised that that has been indicated to Marseille.

"I think Leeds would be absolutely gutted because he's one that could definitely step up and has shown that he can play in the Premier League.

"If you start losing players like that and they start to go elsewhere, you need to try and find another fit which is difficult in them wide areas. I know that they have that strength in that region, but I think they'd be gutted if they didn't sign for Leeds."

Manor Solomon replacement would be tough to find for Leeds

It's not easy for newly promoted teams to be able to sign players who have already established themselves in the Premier League. Usually those people are already tied down to deals with other top-flight clubs, so this should be considered to be a massive opportunity for Daniel Farke's side, and just as massive a loss if they fail to get Solomon this summer.

His time with Spurs has been majorly affected by injuries, so much so that Leeds' agreement with Tottenham included a clause that if the winger hurt his knee while at Elland Road they wouldn't have to cover his wages, as per The Athletic.

Those troubles fortunately didn't follow him to Yorkshire. He had fitness issues here and there, but the 39 Championship appearances he made over the course of the campaign prove how reliable he was for Farke.