Leeds have just lost one piece of our key 2018/19 Championship contingent in Pontus Jansson, and could lose two more if the club are unable to convince Kemar Roofe and Kalvin Phillips that their futures should be at Elland Road.
Roofe has now entered the final year of his contract in West Yorkshire, and is understood to have become the subject of intense interest from Scottish Premiership side Rangers, as Steven Gerrard scouts alternatives should he lose Alfredo Morelos.
The 26-year-old striker is thought to be intent on landing a new deal that would move him in line with Patrick Bamford and Kiko Casilla as the club’s highest earners, who rake in figures in the region of £30,000-a-week.
Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan recently told Football Insider that he believes Roofe’s head may even have turned in favour of a £5million move to Ibrox, after United executives failed to do their job sufficiently.
“Leeds are vulnerable to losing Kemar,” he said. “They are not in a good position and they are there because they failed to give him a new contract last season, when they should have.
“You cannot allow your top goalscorer to come to the final year of his contract. It’s not the way to go about keeping players. Now we could lose one of our best players because the club haven’t done their job right.
“I’ve read Rangers want to get Kemar for £5million. He’s worth double that, around £10million. Easily. It appears the player’s head has been turned with a huge contract offer from Rangers.”
As for Phillips, the Whites product has been the subject of intense interest from Premier League new boys Aston Villa, as they gear up for a new top-flight campaign having won the Play-Off Final in May.
Leeds are thought to have acted proactively to prevent the defensive midfielder from seeking a move to Birmingham by offering the 23-year-old an improved contract, but Football Insider claimed at the start of July that the deal was rejected as it was far from what the player and his camp feel he is worth.
Phillips allegedly also wants to see his wage move in line with Bamford and Casilla like Roofe, and has told friends that his preference would be to continue his career at Elland Road.
Rejecting an improved contract only opens the door for speculation of a summer of goodbyes though, but Leeds fan James Rathbone has other members of the Elland Road faithful talking after claiming Phillips has not rejected the offer of a new contract.
The Whites supporter has suggested there are still a few things the player and the club must iron out before a deal can be agreed, but a new contract may be signed.
A ‘well-known’ centre-back may also be on his way to Elland Road to replace Jansson, and Rathbone notes that the unnamed player would be a ‘significant improvement’ on the Sweden international.
Here’s how these Leeds fans reacted to his claims…
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