“From what I’ve heard I have to be honest”- Phil Hay says Leeds trio will all leave Elland Road on a free next summer with players not part of Daniel Farke future plans at the club
There are a number of Leeds United players out of contract at the end of the season at Elland Road, with experienced trio Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas set to see their deals end in June.
Seven Leeds players are out of contract at the end of 23-24, while three are on loan without permanent options. Ian Poveda, Lew Bate, Sam Byram and Jamie Shackleton also leave on a free as things stand.
Ayling started the season as a key player, but has slowly drifted out of the side. He might even be the club’s fourth-choice right-back right now, behind Archie Gray, Djed Spence and versatile Shackleton.
Cooper has been more involved, but is still not first choice despite remaining the club captain. Pascal Struijk is ahead of him at the minute. Dallas has not played since April 2022 – recovering from injury.
It is unclear what decision Leeds will make on the trio come the end of the season. Cooper had interest in the summer from Saudi Arabia, but he rejected the offer. But Hay says it is unlikely they sign on.
Speaking to The Square Ball, Hay said: “I saw Dallas a few weeks back. It’s been really tough for him and it’s been such a long stretch too. A serious injury, it’s taken a long time for him to recover from it, too.
“He’s out of contract, Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper as well. I have to be honest, I will be a little bit surprised if any of them get offered new deals from what I’ve heard. A fit Dallas, you’d love to have as, so useful.”
Phil Hay says Leeds United trio will not receive new contracts
It is a shame, and sad that Cooper, Ayling and Dallas could all leave the club in the summer. That would see Cooper clock up 10 years at Leeds, joining in Massimo Cellino’s first summer – way back in 2014.
Ayling will have done eight years, while Dallas had done nine years. The trio have amassed a huge 808 appearances between them in a Leeds shirt, all playing crucial roles in promotion under Marcelo Bielsa.
But from a footballing point of view, it is probably the right decision to wave goodbye to all three in the summer. None of them are in the side, and Dallas might not be the same player. Time to move on.
