Leeds United boss Garry Monk’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the season but the Whites can easily extend that deal.
Leeds United manager Garry Monk
Regardless of whether Leeds go on and secure promotion or not this season, there is no question that Garry Monk deserves a huge amount of credit for the work that he has done and the Whites would be foolish to allow his contract to run out this summer.
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, the contract Monk signed last summer only runs until the end of the season but also involves a clause that would allow Leeds to extend it by another 12 months.
While most Leeds fans would urge the club to do exactly that – and it would certainly not be a surprise if they did – recent speculation surrounding interest in Monk suggests that that may be a dangerous game.
The Daily Mirror recently reported that Norwich City are interested in targeting Monk should Leeds fail to go up, so the Whites are surely taking a major risk by simply taking up the option on Monk’s contract rather than offering him a long-term deal.
Given Norwich’s recent history – the Canaries have spent four of the last six seasons in the Premier League, while Leeds have been outside the top flight since 2004 – it would hardly be a surprise if Monk certainly considered making the switch, and he would certainly be forgiven for thinking about it much more seriously if the Leeds hierarchy simply took up the option.
Monk has undoubtedly done enough to earn a new long-term deal and for the club’s board to throw their full support behind him, so it may seem like something of a slap in the face if the club turn around and only do the minimum by extending his contract by another 12 months.
If that proves to be the case, and Norwich make an approach, the Leeds owners will have no one to blame but themselves if Monk tells them that he is ready to go.
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