Leeds United are looking to offer Liam Cooper a new deal amid interest from Saudi Arabia.
That is according to Leeds Live, who report interest from Robbie Fowler’s Al-Qadsiah is genuine, but the Whites are yet to receive any offers for their captain and are not expecting him to leave.
What’s more, Leeds have received no indication from Cooper he would like to make the move, despite the eye-watering sums of tax free cash currently on offer over in the Middle East.
Leeds are in the market for a new centre-back before the end of the window and can ill afford to lose another, particularly due to the leadership Cooper offers both on and off the pitch.
Daniel Farke currently has just three centre-backs at his disposal heading into the new season, with Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Max Wober all having left on loan.
Leeds ready to offer Cooper new deal to fend off Saudi interest
Cooper has just 12 months left to run on his deal at Elland Road and is heading into his tenth year as a Leeds player following his move from Chesterfield in 2014.
Despite big money additions in his position during that time, Cooper has remained a consistent figure at the heart of Leeds’ defence.
In fact, Cooper has often looked far more assured at the back than the likes of Koch and Llorente, who Leeds spent over £30 million combined to bring to West Yorkshire.
Saudi interest will no doubt be tempting for any player who receives an offer, and Cooper is no certainly no different in that regard.
However, if he was to stay and sign a new deal, that would be a real statement of intent on his behalf about how desperate he is to captain Leeds back to the Premier League.
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