Leeds United enjoyed a solid summer transfer window last year, signing the likes of Illan Meslier on a permanent deal and exciting winger Raphinha. Business was silent in January but Victor Orta and co will be looking ahead to when the market opens up once again this summer as they hope to bring in more reinforcements.

However, they will likely be looking at some departures from Elland Road as well. One man who looks set to be leaving the club is outcast left-back Barry Douglas.

Football Insider reports that the Whites are planning to let the 31-year-old depart upon the expiry of his contract in four months' time, regardless of performances this season.

Douglas has spent the 2020/21 campaign on loan with Blackburn Rovers, where he has played just 18 matches across all competitions. He missed three matches due to coronavirus and was left out of the match day action on four different occasions, as per Transfermarkt.

Since joining Leeds back in 2018, Douglas has made a total of 44 appearances and struggled to adapt to the revolutionised full-back role of contributing to the attack. He has just five assists to his name in that time.

Despite the fact Marcelo Bielsa is short on defensive options, especially with Ezgjan Alioski being linked with leaving the club as well, it shows that Douglas really has ran down his time at Elland Road. The Scot is currently on a £40,000 per week deal, which will be money that Andrea Radrizzani could do without spending.

The Whites don't have a massive warchest like some of their Premier League counter-parts, and will need to be shrewd with their dealings.

If Leeds are to bring in some new signings in the summer, they will need to free up some wages and having Douglas' £40,000 wages off the books will be a huge boost for when Orta gets down to business in the transfer market.

Douglas simply hasn't cut it for Bielsa, with The Athletic's Phil Hay even remarking earlier this season that the left-back is "on the fringes" of things at Elland Road.

Cutting their losses on him this summer just seems like the best step for all parties involved, and Radrizzani will be happy that the club are finally making a ruthless call.

In other news, Marcelo Bielsa new deal is huge boost for Leeds...