Lewis Baker has made it clear why he left Leeds United

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Lewis Baker has left Leeds United. The first man to join Marcelo Bielsa’s Elland Road revolution has terminated his loan spell to join Reading until the end of the season. It would be fair to say he struggled to meet expectations at Leeds.

The Chelsea loanee failed to establish himself in the Leeds team. When given a chance, he did little to suggest he deserved to remain in the Leeds fold going forward. He only played over 45 minutes once in the Championship for Leeds, featuring for an hour in a 2-2 draw at Swansea City.

Despite that fact, Bielsa wanted to keep him. As he told Leeds Live yesterday he had told Baker he ‘wanted him to stay’ at Leeds.

“Maybe he felt we did not value him at the right level.

“The only time I talked to him about this subject I not only told him I wanted him to stay with us, I told him even into the next year I wanted to keep him, but I understand he took another decision.”

– Marcelo Bielsa on Lewis Baker’s exit

But Baker’s comments since joining Reading made it clear he made the decision to leave, rather than Chelsea recalling him.

He told the Reading FC official website that what he needs is ‘as much game time as possible’.

“It’s the right time for me to come here, to get as much game time as possible.

“I think that’s what I need at the moment.

“If anyone knows me personally and knows how much I love football they know I just want to play.”

– Lewis Baker on leaving Leeds

It is fair enough for Baker to want to play on a more regular basis. He is now 23-years-old and a similar loan spell at Middlesbrough last term proved to be unsuccessful.

Undoubtedly talented, his form at Vitesse between 2015-17 will give Reading hope of a relegation saviour.

But Leeds fans will not be too sad to see the player leave.