Leeds United have been told that they may find it difficult to convince Jamie Shackleton of signing a new contract with the versatile ace set to see his current deal expire in June.
The 24-year-old is now in the final few months of his Leeds deal and a decision will have to be made on the England U20 star’s future. It comes after returning to the Elland Road fold under boss Daniel Farke.
A bit of a forgotten man after an indifferent loan at Millwall, Shackleton came back to Leeds and it was expected he would be allowed to move on. Shackleton’s agent even said he would leave permanently.
But having impressed in both midfield and at right-back, Farke chose to keep the Leeds man. He started the season well with Farke describing Shackleton as “underrated” but his game time has become sparse.
Just 14 appearances this season, little over 1000 minutes of football and just two very late sub outings since the turn of the year in the Championship. Shackleton is at a point where he needs a move.
With his contract expiring in the summer and Shackleton struggling for games at 24, it is likely he could move on. Carlton Palmer thinks that even if The Whites tried to tie him down, he would say no.
Palmer told Football League World that Leeds would like to tie him down but if they wanted to, they might have left it a little bit too late with clubs likely to be circling.
Carlton Palmer thinks Jamie Shackleton will leave Leeds
“It may well be that Leeds re-sign him and send him out on loan again, or maybe Shackleton will let his contract run down and move on. He is now 24 and you need to be playing regularly,” Palmer said.
“Of course, from Leeds’ point of view, they have seen what he has done on loan with Millwall, so I would bet they will extend his deal, send him on loan, which will protect the transfer fee they could get for him.
“They have left it late, and he could now be available on a free, so it may be difficult to convince him of a new deal, as he won’t want to waste another season sitting on the bench,” the former Leeds man added.
Farke hinted at a new deal for Shackleton at Leeds
Farke was quizzed at the start of February about the player’s future at Elland Road with his deal ending in June. The German hinted that Shackleton would be looked after and maybe given a contract at Leeds.
But nothing has materialised as of yet. Shackleton will be leaving Leeds as thing stand having joined the club’s academy at 12 years of age. Half of his life pulling on the Leeds jersey including 93 senior games.
It does seem realistic though that Shackleton will leave and even if the Whites do look to keep him as Palmer suggests, he needs to reject the club. The no.17 has got to find somewhere to play regularly.
