“The offer the club should be putting is a pay-as-you-play deal”- PL pundit says Leeds should offer Midfielder new deal but on pay as you play condition with player reportedly in talks over new contract at Elland Road
Jonny Buchan has suggested that Leeds United midfielder Adam Forshaw should be offered a “pay-as-you-play” contract at Leeds United because of his injury problems, to help cover for a series of expected departures.
The veteran English midfielder is one of two first-team men whose deals are set to expire at the end of the month, and with the retained list expected this week a decision may have to be made before a new manager is through the door to asses him.
But although Phil Hay in The Athletic believes the club will “desperately” want to keep Tyler Adams, Buchan feels the American star will go, with Marc Roca also linked to an exit [Express, 24 May], and Weston McKennie already gone, so it may be necessary to keep hold of Forshaw but on a deal that protects the club.
Buchan suggested of Forshaw: “The offer that the club should be putting in that direction is a pay-as-you-play, the more you play the more you get paid, simple as that.
“Because he could be a very good player in the Championship, but if he picks up an injury in the first week or month of the season and you’re paying those wages for the next couple of years that looks like a really bad decision then, when he’s had so many problems.
“It’s whether he’s willing to be on that sort of deal… Will other clubs be queueing up to offer him a contract with all the problems he’s had?”
Pope said: “It’s a good point but he’s going on a free anyway otherwise so it’s not like Leeds are losing money.” He then pointed out a decision may well have to be made on Forshaw’s future based on the scouts and Angus Kinnear if a manager isn’t in by the time the retained list comes out.
The decision partly hands on Adams’ future, and when Pope asked the question if he would go Buchan responded: “I think Adams will go, so then you are really light in midfield, particularly if you are letting Roca go as well. And McKennie’s not staying, he’s already gone.”
Unless the incoming 49ers regime can inspire their compatriot Adams to lead the promotion push from midfield then there is a risk that the options at the position look as light on paper as they often did on the pitch this season.
After the USMNT captain gained a lot of focus during the World Cup, and the injury that ended his season saw his reputation enhanced in his absence, it will be a major challenge to keep him in the second tier.
But it is not impossible so while Buchan is surely being realistic about the prospects a lot of hopes will be pinned on him staying.
If Forshaw would accept a pay-as-you-play deal after just 47 Whites appearances in total over the last three seasons then there would be plenty of reason to get the 31-year-old signed to one regardless of what happens with his teammates’ futures.
McKennie’s unhappy period at Elland Road has ended, and there wasn’t enough from Roca to suggest it is worth rejecting offers.
In an ideal world, Adams as the primary option, with a fit Forshaw and one of the youngsters such as Darko Gyabi in a solid three-man midfield sounds appealing for the promotion push, but there are so many questions still to answer before clarity can be found on the squad.
