According to The Mirror, Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa doesn’t want to lose either Pablo Hernandez or Kiko Casilla this summer.
It’s claimed that Hernandez remains part of Bielsa’s plans, and won’t be moved on this summer despite a reduced role this season.
The 36-year-old has only started twice this term whilst playing a total of 349 minutes, with his influence on this Leeds team clearly diminishing.
With just over a year left on his contract, many had wondered whether the veteran would be moved on this summer to make way for a younger player.
Instead, it’s claimed that Bielsa values Hernandez’s experience and wants to keep the ‘magician’ at Leeds into the final year of his contract.
It’s unlikely that Hernandez would be offered an extension beyond that, but this may well give him the chance to bid an emotional farewell to the Leeds fans.
With fans unable to go to games this season, it would have been somewhat cruel for Hernandez to bow out at Leeds without the adulation of Leeds fans.
Another year should give Leeds the chance to say goodbye to Hernandez, who has racked up 36 goals in 168 games for the Whites since arriving from Swansea City in 2016.
As for Casilla, the 34-year-old has lost his place as Leeds’ first-choice goalkeeper to Illan Meslier, but still has two more years left on his contract.
His role at Leeds has been in question since being found guilty of racially abusing Jonathan Leko, and with his playing time diminishing, some expected him to go soon.
However, Bielsa thinks he’s a valuable asset given that Meslier and Elia Caprile are both young goalkeepers, meaning the experienced Casilla is likely to stay.
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