Jean-Kevin Augustin's future with Leeds United is very much up in the air.

The striker arrived on loan from RB Leipzig in the January transfer window and was tipped to make a big impression at Elland Road.

However the 23-year-old has been limited to just three cameo appearances since moving to West Yorkshire.

The club announced last week that Augustin's loan spell would not be extended to the end of the season, casting doubt over the permanent deal that was placed into the agreement.

The Athletic have confirmed that the striker is obliged to sign for the club permanently this summer, however according to The Athletic's Phil Hay, Leeds United are said to be assessing how to scrap such a deal.

Speaking on The Phil Hay Show, Hay said: “We know that Leeds have not extended his loan, we know that there is a potential fight coming over this obligation to have to sign Augustin for about £18 million from Leipzig if they do go up.

“I made contact with some of Augustin’s people at the back end of last week and they’re very clear in saying that as far as Augustin is concerned, he thinks his career at Leeds is done.

"He doesn’t expect to play for the club again. He’s very much under the impression that Bielsa no longer wants him involved, no longer sees him as part of the picture there.

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“There is a scenario that comes around where Leeds are forced to pay the money for him depending on how watertight the contract is, and depending on whether there’s any wiggle room with this obligation.

"Politically it becomes difficult/impossible to actually bring him back to the club given that it’s now becoming apparent that Bielsa doesn’t want him involved, that it’s not a deal Leeds want to go through with and on that basis alone, you can’t see Augustin having any motivation to make this a permanent transfer.

“So, ‘more convenient’, I think is right in the sense that there was nothing to be gained from having an unfit Augustin moping around the place, but ‘more convenient’ certainly doesn’t reflect the situation Leeds are in with this and it doesn’t reflect the fact that Leipzig are not going to go quietly when it comes to forgoing the millions of pounds that they’ve been promised.”

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GIVEMESPORT'S Phil Spencer says...

Jean-Kevin Augustin has been a huge disappointment for Leeds United.

Three appearances for a player who was so highly-rated is hugely disappointing, particularly given the role that he could have played.

Augustin just hasn't been fit and that's been a big problem.

If the Whites had their way, they would send the striker back to RB Leipzig this summer and never look back, but with a mandatory purchase all-but agreed it seems that this could be tricky.

What the future holds for the 23-year-old remains to be seen, but he faces a long road back if he's to prove himself at Elland Road.