Daniel Farke has some big decisions to make when it comes to the futures of a handful of fringe players at Leeds United.
It has already been confirmed Ian Poveda and Lewis Bate will be leaving on free transfers this summer, but there will certainly be some more difficult conversations to be had regarding others in similar situations.
In terms of the returning loanees, much of the spotlight has been on those who were in the first team squad during the 2022/23 campaign, particularly after the news of Brenden Aaronson’s return.
Max Wober, Diego Llorente, Rasmus Kristensen, Jack Harrison and Marc Roca are all Leeds players again as it stands, and could be in for uncertain summers unless decisions can be made quickly.
Roca looks set to be first to go with a permanent move to Real Betis close, while Harrison may also leave on loan again.
The other three, though, do not have the option to leave on loan for a second time and so nothing can be ruled out.
New update shares on future of Leeds duo Sam Greenwood and Darko Gyabi
While understandably that quintet have been grabbing all the headlines, Farke must also decide what to do with his other returning loanees and fringe players.
Sam Greenwood and Darko Gyabi both had spells on loan at Championship sides last season, though arguably did not show enough to warrant a place in Leeds’ squad come August.
They are likely to find themselves in a similar position to Joe Gelhardt and Charlie Cresswell, who both remained at Elland Road for the 2023/24 campaign but last started a league game in August.
Cresswell is already attracting permanent interest from elsewhere, but according to Leeds Live, Greenwood and Gyabi could be allowed to leave on loan again.
As per the report, both players will need to impress Farke in pre-season to have any chance of being part of the squad next season, or faced being moved on.
Leeds should sell Greenwood, Gyabi needs another loan
Though both seemingly find themselves in the same situation this summer, there is one of those two players who deserves a chance to show what he can do on loan.
Greenwood had a full season at Middlesbrough to show what he can do at this level, but after a promising start, really fell off from January onwards, failing to register a single goal or assist in his last 16 appearances.
For someone who played predominantly in a front four, that sort of return is not good enough for where Leeds want to be and therefore he should be moved on permanently.
Gyabi, meanwhile, was only loaned out to Plymouth Argyle in January but saw his time cut short at the club due to injury, last playing on March 9.
With a brilliant display against Greenwood’s Boro, Gyabi had just started to find some form until picking up that injury, and so the jury remains out on whether he can do it consistently at this level.
As such, he deserves the opportunity go out on loan again to another Championship side, for Leeds to then reassess once and for all in 12 months’ time.