Leeds United will reportedly open contract talks with three key players in the summer.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side are doing incredibly well in the Championship this season. The 2-1 win away at Rotherham on Saturday has left the Whites six points clear of third with 17 games remaining.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, several of the Leeds squad are looking for improved contracts. The Sun on Sunday (27/1; page 63) reports Clarke, Phillips and Roofe all want pay rises.
However, the report adds that the Whites will delay discussions over new deals until the end of the season.
It appears to make a lot of sense for all parties to hold off talks for the time-being. Promotion is the one target that the entire squad will be focusing on, and contract discussions could, at this stage, provide an unnecessary distraction – especially if any talks do not quite go to plan.
It could prove to be a gamble that backfires if Leeds miss out on promotion. Transfermarkt shows that Roofe’s deal expires next summer, while Phillips and Clarke’s terms both run until 2021, so the Whites would not be in the best position if any of the trio wish to leave at any stage.
But if Leeds do go on to capitalise on their current position and secure promotion, and then tie the trio down, then the decision to delay talks will look like an absolutely inspired move.
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