Connor Roberts already given his verdict on possible Leeds United return as Whites ponder incoming business — YEP 5/7/24
By Joe Donnohue
Former Leeds United loanee and Wales international defender
Connor Roberts made no secret his desire to one day return to Elland Road on a
permanent basis.
The 28-year-old spent the second half of last season with
Daniel Farke's promotion-hunting group but has since returned to parent club
Burnley where he has 12 months left on his contract.
Roberts was keen to make an impression at Elland Road but
found game-time limited due to a combination of injuries and the form of Archie
Gray, who was snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur earlier this week in a £40
million deal.
With Gray no longer in the picture at Leeds, along with Luke
Ayling, Cody Drameh and Jamie Shackleton departing, United are particularly
short of options at right-sided full-back. Sam Byram's one-year extension was
triggered after the play-off final, but given his injury history, there is no
guarantee he will be able to start all 46 of Leeds' Championship fixtures in
the coming season.
Roberts is a player with vast second tier experience and
international pedigree having appeared at the European Championships and FIFA
World Cup. He has made 185 appearances in the Championship throughout his
career, scoring 16 and adding a further 21 assists, predominantly from
right-back.
While his Leeds stint failed to ignite due to circumstances
largely outside his control, it would be no surprise if the defender was keen
to seek a route back to Elland Road on a permanent transfer this summer.
Roberts is known to be close off the field with Welsh
contingent Joe Rodon, Dan James and Ethan Ampadu; an international cohort which
saw youngster Charlie Crew added last month as the 17-year-old came off the
bench to make his debut for the national team versus Gibraltar.
Rodon's return for £10 million has been rubber-stamped early
in the window and will do no harm in persuading Roberts that Elland Road is the
place for him, if Leeds and Burnley get their heads together and thrash out a
deal which appears to suit all parties.
Upon arriving in LS11 earlier this year, Roberts said:
"Football's a funny game, so I'll be doing my very best to make a good
impression on and off the pitch and maybe in the future it can change from the
straight loan but yeah, at the moment it's just come here try and help on and
off the pitch.
"It's just a loan for now, but I think it would have
been unbelievable to come here for the long term kind of thing, but I'm going
to be incredibly privileged to play for Leeds United, whether that's a handful
of times or every single game between now and the end of the season."
The Welshman made 15 appearances in all competitions for the
Whites, scoring once against Leicester City and grabbing one assist in the 1-1
draw with Huddersfield Town.