Championship play-off semi fianlists Leeds United were reportedly hoping to sign former Elland Road star Lennon from Premier League Burnley.
Burnley have triggered an extension to Aaron Lennon’s contract – ending the possibility Leeds could re-sign him for free this summer.
The Sun broke the news back in February that the veteran winger had been lined up for an emotional return to the club where he started his career as a teenager in the early 2000s.
Lennon spent five years at Leeds and made 43 appearances for the first-team before starting a long and successful stint at Tottenham Hotspur in 2005.
But Leeds coach Marcelo Bielsa was apparently giving serious consideration to the prospect of bringing the 32-year-old back to where it all began in a move that promised to breathe fresh life into a player who has struggled for form and fitness since joining Burnley in 2018.
Though, in a decision that will disappoint the more romantic Leeds fans, Burnley have opted to extend Lennon’s contract by a further 12 months rather than allowing him to leave on a free in the summer, as reported by The Mail.
Despite starting just 14 Premier League games in 2018/19, it seems that Sean Dyche still has plenty of confidence in a player who’s speed and ability to breeze past opposition full-backs remains despite his advancing years.
The only hope would be that Burnley are only doing so, in order to sell Lennon and get a fee. Whether Leeds want to pay for him, is another matter.
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