Leeds United are in talks with League One side Fleetwood Town to discuss a deal to sell defender Lewie Coyle in January, according to Football Insider.
The 24-year-old has been on loan with the Fisherman for the past two-and-a-half seasons, and is seen as a key part of their promotion-chasing side by head coach Joey Barton, who is eager to retain Coyle’s services with his current spell set to end later this month.
Coyle has started each of his 17 outings in the third-tier thus far this season, and captained the Highbury natives in their 2-1 loss away to Coventry City in October.
His presence in the side that lost 3-1 away to Blackpool at the weekend saw Coyle earn his 100th League One appearance with Fleetwood, for whom he has provided 14 assists for in all competitions.
Marcelo Bielsa is ready to green light a permanent deal for Coyle to remain with Fleetwood, having decided that the 5 ft 6 right-back does not fit into his plans at Elland Road, either for the second half of the current campaign or going forward.
Coyle has never featured under Bielsa, having made 10 of his Leeds appearances during Garry Monk’s tenure and 13 under Steve Evans.
Should we sell Coyle to Fleetwood in January?
Yes, get what we can for him
No, give him another shot
January presents our last chance to secure a transfer fee for Coyle, unless the Bielsa outcast were to return to West Yorkshire and pen a new deal, as his current terms are due to expire in the summer.
Coyle has been made aware of our intentions to sell for some time and would be happy to remain at Fleetwood beyond the end of the year, with United chiefs actively searching for options for the past month.
In other Leeds United news, fans have been reacting after Marcelo Bielsa offered an update on a rarely-seen first-team player.