Don’t You Think So?: Leeds United’s early eight-figure transfer deal would make no business sense

If your neighbour lent you a television for 10 months at a nominal weekly rate, with the option to buy it outright for several thousand pounds at any point in that term, why would you? You have a bit of kit you enjoy using every day, it’s improved your home life, you have it guaranteed until the end of the 10 months, but there’s no risk to you if it breaks.

The agreement is in place for 10 months. None of your other neighbours can take it from you in that time. It’s the definition of a try before you buy. You keep watching that screen to your heart’s content and when the agreement comes towards its conclusion, you put your hand in your pocket if you’re still happy.

You might feel compelled to pay the owner that fee earlier than normal because you’re worried your other neighbours have been impressed with what they have seen on your wall. If they want to pay those thousands of pounds to the owner, while you’re still using it for another seven months, and take on that risk with a TV that hasn’t always been reliable in the past, let them.

When you then throw in the full-back’s own, presumed, happiness with the Bundesliga outfit, it further undermines the suggestion Eintracht will look to seal a permanent deal early with Leeds United. The 27-year-old has had a few tumultuous years, but has started all nine of his current club’s games in their run to third in the German top flight.

It would be astounding if Kristensen did not want to remain with the Waldstadion outfit for good. The reports from Germany would suggest Frankfurt could pay between £8.4m and £10.1m to Leeds for Kristensen.

That’s a sum the Whites are highly unlikely to turn down, if it isn’t a pre-agreed option in the loan, now or next summer. United will not complain if the call comes imminently, but from Frankfurt’s side, it makes no sense to commit now when so much can change with Kristenensen between now and May 2025.