Leeds United will have a few key decisions to make on the future of several players in the summer.
The Whites have a number of members of the squad out of contract at the end of the season, and for many, there hasn’t been any indication they will be offered new deals.
Ian Poveda, Luke Ayling and Lewis Bate are three of those who fall under that category, but may have already played their last game for the club, as they are currently out on loan. Whether their performances since leaving change Leeds’ mind, remains to be seen.
Jamie Shackleton and Sam Byram, meanwhile, are two more whose deals expire in a few weeks’ time. Both have struggled with injuries so far this season and certainly in terms of the former, it feels like a good time for a mutual parting of ways.
Long-term servants Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas are the final two who could be coming to the end of their time at Elland Road, with reports having emerged a number of months ago they would not be offered new contracts.
£600k Leeds player is not expecting to be offered a new contract this summer
Given their age and the amount of time they have spent at the club, there is no doubt both Cooper and Dallas would happily end their careers at Leeds if they had the choice.
However, Cooper has fallen down the pecking order at centre-back this season, while it is now almost two years since Dallas last played, as he continues his recovery from injury.
From Leeds’ point of view, it would now make little sense financially to keep either of them, with some fresh blood now very much needed.
And according to Phil Hay on the latest episode of the Square Ball Podcast, that is exactly what Cooper is expecting, with the Leeds captain having said to have acknowledged he is now coming to the end of his time at Elland Road.
He said: “I don’t feel it was Cooper’s fault entirely for the two goals [vs Watford] but clearly, the second one in particular was a real mess. He is coming to the end now Cooper and I don’t think there’s been any expectation on his part at all that there is going to be a new contract at the end of this.”
Cooper’s Watford display ended hopes of new Leeds deal
There is no doubt Cooper remains a key figure in the dressing room at Leeds. It was only recently Mateo Joseph was praising him for the impact he has had behind-the-scenes.
Unfortunately, however, his actual impact on the pitch is no longer enough, and that was shown by his performance at Watford last week, on his first league start since New Year’s Day.
Leeds immediately looked a better team when he came off the pitch and it is said he looked visibly deflated when he was brought off early.
That said, there would be no better way for him to go out after 10 years at Leeds than with another promotion, that he still has contributed to. For £600k, he’s been a brilliant servant.