Leeds sold Cook to Bournemouth in July.
Leeds United chief executive Ben Mansford has branded newspaper reports linking Lewis Cook with a return to Elland Road as ‘lazy journalism’, during an interview with the BBC on Wednesday.
However, Mansford did go on to suggest that a move for the Bournemouth midfielder is an avenue that could be explored ‘if it was ever right’.
Earlier in the day, the Bournemouth Echo published an article – which cited unconfirmed reports – linking Leeds with a loan move for Cook, the player they sold to the Cherries in July.
However, when asked about the speculation, Mansford told the BBC: “I represented Fabian (Delph) back in the day and every time he wasn’t in the team at (Aston) Villa he was linked back to Leeds.
“It’s lazy jorunalism in my opinion. Let’s concentrate on the boys that are here.
“If it was ever right to do again it’s something… but Garry would lead on that at the right time.”
Cook, who spent more than a decade at Elland Road, has appeared just three times for his new club, which appears to have prompted the speculation about his future on the south coast.
However, while Leeds would under normal circumstances welcome a move for a player of Cook’s ability, they are currently well-stocked in his position.
In his last appearance on BBC Leeds, Mansford shared his belief that, upon signing for Bournemouth, the 19-year-old had ‘looked to find a mechanism whereby his agents could get him back to Leeds’ were the club to return to the Premier League.
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