Liam Cooper has told BBC Sport he expects a “mass exodus” of Leeds United players this summer after the club suffered relegation to the Championship – but told players after Sunday’s loss they will be lucky to stay at Leeds.
Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Tottenham resigned Leeds to relegation after three years in the Premier League. As always, it will see a number of players depart this summer – with plenty of interest in relegated players always likely to arise.
Relegation means some players will want to leave, and it reduces the price tag with Leeds needing to sell certain assets to keep the club financially viable. Plenty have been linked – the likes of Rodrigo, Jack Harrison, Willy Gnonto.
Illan Meslier, Tyler Adams, Robin Koch, Marc Roca and others have also attracted interest. It will be interesting to see who does go and who the club bring in, as replacements. Cooper spoke after Sunday’s loss, expecting many to go.
“I’ve just said to the boys in there [dressing room], all the crap that comes with it – you’ve got to take it on the chin. You’ve got to come back fighting next year, we know how difficult it is to get out of the Championship,” Cooper said.
“We know what relegation means. It probably means a mass exodus of players. But, [I said] if you are lucky enough to be at this club next year, we’re going to need everybody aligned. Ready to have a right go. Got to do that again.”
Liam Cooper expects mass exodus of Leeds players this summer
Cooper is right. Ultimately, Leeds fans would love to see a number of players remain. The likes of Harrison, Rodrigo, Adams, Koch. Some players, Leeds fans would be happy to see go – Roca, Meslier, Junior Firpo and other players.
What Leeds must do, is sell the players that do not want to be here. Leeds cannot afford carrying players that are only in it half-hearted next season. As Cooper rightly says, it is hard to get out of the League. We must be United.
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