Well, it looks as if my question is set to be answered in the not too distant future.
With it being international week and there not being a lot of first-team club football to be played, it seems as if the Leeds board have been incredibly busy behind the scenes when it comes to player’s contracts.
This week has seen a hat-trick of deals being signed at Elland Road. First Kalvin Phillips, then the double deal of Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas. Now it looks as if the club are set to keep the wheels in motion by turning their attention to two more members of the squad.
According to Phil Hay of The Athletic during a Q&A session yesterday, Mateusz Klich and Pablo Hernandez are set to be the next two in line for contract renewals.
Whilst I agree with offering Klich a new deal, who having been an ever-present part of the side under Marcelo Bielsa, and at the age of 29 still has a lot to offer the club, particularly if he can keep producing goals and assists like he did last year, I would be somewhat hesitant about offering one to Pablo Hernandez.
I spoke yesterday about the situation surrounding the 34-year-old Spaniard and how this could very well be his last season or the club. In that piece I spoke about how the club needed to start looking towards the future when it came to the wide positions. Now whilst he is still performing at the level he is, having got off to a great start this season with two goals and two assists in the league, I just think the club should be cautious when offering him a new deal.
It’s well known that wingers very rarely keep up their levels of production as they get older, so just how much longer will he still be of some use to the club and is it worth us even pursuing giving him a new deal at his age knowing that the levels can drop off at any time.
What do you think? Are you happy with these two guys being offered a contract? Or do you think the deals should be going to some of the squad’s younger players?