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With the January transfer window drawing to a close Leeds United have been rocked with the news that Luciano Becchio wants out of the club.
A club statement, which can be read in full here, said that two bids from foreign sides had both already been turned down so far this window but the Argentine believes he needs to move for financial reasons. The statement went on to reveal that Becchio is already the club's highest earner but the club has tried to agree a new deal with the player.
Becchio, who is now the tenth highest goalscorer in Leeds United history, will only be allowed to leave if the right offer comes in.
Should United's number ten depart the club, something which now looks inevitable, he will be following in the footsteps of Jermaine Beckford, Robert Snodgrass, Jonny Howson and Max Gradel who have all left with little fight coming from the club to keep them. Last night there were rumours of Gradel's return but in light of today's news it was perhaps to soften the blow, I won't hold my breath. It looked for a while as though we would manage to keep our better players this window but it seems that the new owners are set to make little difference in keeping our prized possessions. This time last year we lost Howson and now it's Becchio's turn.
In my opinion you can't really blame Becchio, he has stayed and watched all his mates leave the club and yet has remained a great servant to the club since joining in 2008. He has stayed loyal to Leeds United and has continued to put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis. This season in particular, the football has been extremely poor and more often than not Becchio has been starved of service but he has still managed 18 goals in all competitions. A tally which has included some crackers against the likes of Chelsea and a brilliant strike against Middlesbrough. After everything that's gone on at this club and all the disappointment of players leaving we have become used to news like this. Without Becchio's goals this season we would be in a relegation dog fight, the next few months could be extremely grim without him at Elland Road.