Leeds United are yet to confirm whether a handful of players will remain at Elland Road or leave the club on a free, and one player has held talks with a Championship rival.
Five have now been sold in the form of Archie Gray, Diego Llorente, Charlie Cresswell, Kris Klaesson, and Marc Roca. Four have gone on loan in Darko Gyabi, Sam Greenwood, Jack Harrison and Sonny Perkins.
Jamie Shackleton has gone on a free transfer to Sheffield United, while Lew Bate has left for a move to Stockport. Liam Cooper, Cody Drameh and Ian Poveda are free agents, though the club are yet to confirm.
However, reports now claim that a Championship rival have held talks with one of those players that are currently out of contract. Until Leeds confirm the likes of Cooper or Drameh have gone, it is up in the air.
Blackburn hold talks to sign player on a free from Leeds
Described as “frightening” by Scotland captain John McGinn, Cooper is approaching 10 years at Leeds. The belief was that he would be leaving the club on a free and it remains that way, his deal now ending.
Reports still indicate that Cooper will leave the club for nothing, despite the club failing to get promoted and Leeds remaining in the second tier. Leeds are also lacking in options in the middle of the defence.
But it looks as if Cooper will go, and Alan Nixon says Blackburn have held talks on their Patreon channel. However, John Eustace have a few options on the table in defence including Hull City’s Sean McLoughlin.
Ideally, Liam Cooper signs a new deal at Leeds this summer
Leeds need depth after losing Charlie Cresswell to Toulouse on a permanent basis. Pascal Struijk spent much of last season injured, and it means The Whites need cover in the middle of the defence this term.
Cooper has made it clear he would love to put pen to paper on new terms if he could. He did so in front of the club’s board at the annual awards night, and Leeds have offered him a deal to stay at Elland Road.
But Cooper will also realise that he is entering the last few years of his career. Does he want to spend them sitting on the bench at Leeds? Or does he want to go and be first choice at a side like Blackburn?
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