Leeds United veteran 'targeted' by promotion rivals amid uncertain Elland Road future — YEP 3/1/24

-

Luke Ayling hasn't featured for Leeds United since the start of November

By Will Jackson

Leeds United vice-captain Luke Ayling is reportedly attracting interest from Championship outfit Middlesbrough this month.

Ayling has found opportunities hard to come by under Daniel Farke over the last couple of months with the right-back failing to appear in any of Leeds’ last 11 games. His last outing for the Whites came in the Championship against Leicester City on November 3 and with his contract due to expire at the end of the season, his future at Elland Road appears to be uncertain.

The 32-year-old may well be considering his options, then, and according to Sky Sports, Middlesbrough could be one. The Teesside outfit are said to be keen on adding Ayling to their ranks this month in a deal that would see Ayling add experience and depth to Michael Carrick’s backline as they look to launch their own bid for Premier League promotion.

Ayling did start the campaign as key member of Farke’s squad and captained the side over the first two months. However, the emergence of Archie Gray as an option at right-back has seen Ayling drop down the pecking order. The fitness of Djed Spence, who missed much of the opening half of the campaign through injury, hasn’t helped Ayling’s hopes of working his way back into contention, either. As such, his opportunities could prove to be few and far between as the New Year begins to take shape.

Any January move would bring an end to a Leeds career which has spanned eight seasons, having joined the club from Bristol City in 2016. The defender has made 251 league appearances for United in that time, establishing himself as something of a club legend for the role he played in the 2019-20 promotion campaign. Ayling scored four goals under Marcelo Bielsa that season, including a volley against Huddersfield Town, which still lives long in the memory of Leeds fans.

Popular posts from this blog

The huge initial fee Leeds are set to receive for Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham — Leeds United News 31/7/24

-
Will Butcher West Ham United are closing in on a deal to sign Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United, and Ben Jacobs has shared how much Leeds will receive for the Dutchman. The 22-year-old has been strongly linked with the Elland Road exit door all summer and was targeted as the one big sale Leeds needed to make before the Profit & Sustainability Rules deadline this month. But instead, Leeds sold Archie Gray for £40m to Tottenham. Leeds have since sold five more players in the form of Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Kris Klaesson and Charlie Cresswell – raking in around £60m in total. But more exits were always likely and Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday afternoon that West Ham had agreed personal terms with Summerville, and talks for a fee were ongoing with the Yorkshire side. Now, the story has moved on with multiple sources claiming a deal is done between Leeds and Angus Kinnear’s old club. The Dutchman is expected to sign a five-year at the London Stadium, until Jun...
Read more

Leeds United board break silence after transfer window with statement on upcoming Elland Road development — YEP 2/9/24

-
By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have confirmed supporters' commemorative stones at Elland Road's Centenary Square will be replaced free of charge in a bid to improve their longevity. Beginning next month, Leeds supporters' personalised stones will be replaced with exact replicas, courtesy of a new company, to ensure of a 'much better quality' installation. The work is expected to take around two months to complete. An official club statement confirmed 'three larger stones dedicated to former managers Don Revie, Howard Wilkinson and Marcelo Bielsa' will also be installed, 'similar to those located in Bremner Square', while additional space for supporters to purchase new stones has also been factored into the project. “The club have taken on board recent feedback from supporters on the stones at Centenary Square, and we are really happy that we can now announce that all of the stones will be replaced," chief executive Angus Kinnear confirmed,...
Read more

Leeds United transfer state of play as Whites knock back low bid and assert wing pair stance — YEP 3/7/24

-
By Graham Smyth Leeds United are not actively looking to cash in on Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto and believe any further outgoing transfer business will be done on their terms. The Whites, who sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday for £40m, expect that there will be continued interest in wing pair Summerville and Gnonto as the summer transfer window progresses. Summerville has been a target for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion but their interest has not yet materialised into a bid. The Albion did, however, send a £30m proposal for Georginio Rutter, which Elland Road chiefs rejected. Rutter is not expected to try and force an exit this summer and appears settled at Leeds after a far more positive second season in English football. The sale of Gray has helped put Leeds into a position where they do not need to sell star players and can dictate any moves that do happen. Club sources say they are not actively looking to sell the likes of Summerville o...
Read more