Leeds United let go of a number of fringe players from their squad in January.
From the first team, Leeds allowed Djed Spence, Luke Ayling and Ian Poveda all to move on, though they also took time sanction exits for a number of youngsters in the U21s.
Darko Gyabi, Leo Hjelde and Lewis Bate were the main three from that crop to depart Elland Road, and it is only the former who has any chance of coming back at the end of the season once his loan spell at Plymouth Argyle ends.
Hjelde made the permanent switch to Sunderland, while Lewis Bate joined MK Dons on loan. However, Bate is out of contract in the summer, and Leeds are said to have no intention of offering him a new one.
Bate has since opened up on his decision to leave Leeds in an interview with the Milton Keynes Citizen, suggesting that it became clear pretty quickly that Daniel Farke did not rate him highly enough to hand him first team opportunities.
Bate opens up on Leeds exit
He said: “It was tough,” said Bate. “The club went down, they brought in a new manager and you always wonder whether they will like you or not, and it turns out he didn’t. But that’s the game, you move on and try and play more games.
“Everyone’s journey and career is different. I don’t hold a grudge, the opportunities dried up a bit but if the manager doesn’t like you, that’s football.”
There is no doubt Leeds made somewhat of a mess of Bate’s development. After a promising spell at Oxford United last season, he then should’ve been sent on loan to another club higher up the football pyramid to continue his development.
However, Leeds were unable to do so in the summer window and as such, Bate continued playing U21s football, a level he was clearly too good for, and has now had to drop into League Two.
Bate may well have never made it at Leeds, but there is no way it should’ve ever got to the situation it has, where they face losing him for very little money in the summer.
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