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Leeds United were concerned that obstructing Luis Sinisterra’s exit would result in a protracted court case

Leeds United were increasingly concerned that obstructing Luis Sinisterra’s exit would result in a protracted court case, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.

The Colombian joined Bournemouth last night after just a year at the Elland Road club. Sinisterra had a release clause in his Leeds contract, but it expired midway through August.

However, the player and his representatives felt the Whites had not honoured the clause as they should have done after they rejected an approach from OGC Nice earlier in the summer transfer window.

Leeds disagreed but as this week wore on, they reckoned legal objections made by Sinisterra’s camp could result in a drawn-out legal battle, and they did not see the need for one.

The former Feyenoord star completed his move very late last night, with Jaidon Anthony moving the opposite way on loan.

Sinisterra or Leeds might have won in court, but the process would have been slow, and having the services of the player in the meantime would have been difficult or impossible.

They would have continued paying his wages all through the legal proceedings even if he was not being selected for games, and wasting money is the last thing they want right now.

Leeds were ordered to pay Jean-Kevin Augustin £24.5million in April after being found to have breached their former player’s contract despite having already reached a £15.5m settlement with RB Leipzig in December 2022 following the transfer dispute over the Frenchman’s loan move in January 2020.

They were not ready to go through something similar again and did not hesitate to let Sinisterra join the Cherries once the Premier League side agreed to send a replacement.

The West Yorkshire club have learnt their lessons this summer and will know how to prevent such from happening again going forward.

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