Dean Jones has claimed Leeds United are likely to offer contract extensions to Luke Ayling and Liam Cooper, while Patrick Bamford is also unlikely to leave in the summer.
This comes amid plenty of speculation surrounding the future of the three long-serving Leeds men, with Ayling and Cooper’s deals set to expire at the end of the current season as things stand.
The Athletic reported [16 October] that Daniel Farke would be the one to make the ultimate decision on the future of his players, and he would judge them based on their performances under him.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT on 5 November, the former Eurosport journalist shared: “I think it’s important that you have the experience of players like Cooper, Ayling and Bamford around the place, but of course, you want a freshness to come into the squad as well.
“You want a new generation of Leeds that you can identify with. They’ve been fantastic servants, particularly Cooper and Ayling, in terms of what they have bought, even recently to the club, and have been good in the Premier League.
“I still think that those guys will be around beyond this season. Both have the potential to sign new contracts in the new year.
“So, I can see why they’ll still be hanging around. I think that that depth is going to be important, and the mix of experience, as well as current quality, is going to be key to helping Leeds get over the line.”
Important to keep the experience around
With Cooper and Ayling in particular, there is no doubt that their experience and influence in the dressing room can play a key part in Leeds’ success, both in the Championship and the Premier League.
The guidance and know-how they can provide to their younger counterparts can prove invaluable when in a tough run of fixtures or form, or even assisting the manager in spotting weaknesses or flaws in the game that they believe they can assist with.
Farke spoke on 23 October about how valuable the stalwarts’ experience has been in his squad so far, in a possible hint on their futures, singling both Cooper and Ayling out for specific praise following the superb comeback victory against Norwich City.
Bamford, meanwhile, has his benefits and once again can provide experience and depth to this side, but his poor form and goalscoring record of late should see Leeds look to shift him if they can generate any interest.
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