Leeds United Opinion: 3 players who deserve new deals at Elland Road
Leeds United have enjoyed a wonderful run in the Championship this season under Marcelo Bielsa and the sleeping Yorkshire giants are very much in with a chance of making a much-anticipated return to the Premier League following a 15-year-long absence.
In case they get promoted, the Peacocks would need to add a lot more quality to their ranks to thrive in the Premier League next season. However, they shouldn’t make the mistake of overhauling their core completely as it might have a negative impact on team morale.
They should take a lesson from Fulham, who made too many changes to their team after securing promotion and are currently on the brink of relegation once again. Hence, it would make sense for Leeds to stick to their roots and trust the core of first-team stars who have made a big impression in the Championship this season.
The Daily Star reports that Leeds face the danger of losing Kemar Roofe and Kalvin Phillips in the summer, with both the players having just more than 12 months remaining on their current contracts.
The club has also entered into talks with breakout star Jack Clarke over a fresh deal, though the youngster has a contract at Elland Road that runs until 2021.
Leeds can obviously choose to cash in on the likes of Phillips and Roofe but that can prove to be a costly mistake, with both the players playing a key role behind their surge for promotion in the Championship. Let us take a closer look at the 3 players who deserve new contracts at the earliest.
1. Kemar Roofe
Well, it sounds absolutely bizarre that Leeds have not yet made any progress over a new deal for their prolific frontman. Roofe has spearheaded the attack brilliantly this season and is currently the team’s top scorer with 14 goals in the Championship.
Patrick Bamford, Pablo Hernández and Tyler Roberts have stepped up in Roofe’s injury-absence but he still remains Leeds’ first-choice striker and they will need him to fire on all cylinders to survive in the top flight.
Both Roberts and Bamford are immensely talented strikers who are also capable of playing in a No.10 role but someone like Roofe is an indispensable asset to the team with his wonderful eye for goal.
Roofe won’t be short of potential suitors in the summer, particularly if Leeds miss out on promotion, and the Peacocks can’t afford such a situation at any cost. Hence, they should convince him to put pen to paper on a new deal as soon as possible.
2. Kalvin Phillips
The highly-rated academy graduate has been one of the integral components of Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team in the Championship this season, making a total of 35 appearances in the league.
Phillips has made the holding midfield role in Bielsa’s system his own and has also filled in admirably at the heart of the defence to cover for the absence of one of the first-choice centre-backs.
Calm and comfortable in possession with a good range of passing, Phillips is the one who keeps things ticking in the midfield with his work-rate and tough-tackling nature.
The 23-year-old has shielded the rearguard really well, and although Leeds have Adam Forshaw as another viable option in the same position, they just can’t afford to lose his services.
3. Jack Clarke
Clarke’s impressive debut season in the Championship hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Premier League clubs. Back in January, the Manchester Evening News reported that Man City were keeping tabs on the 18-year-old with a view to a potential swoop in the summer.
Clarke has started only 4 games in the Championship this season, with most of his appearances being cameos off the bench as a substitute. The youngster has managed to chip in with 2 goals and 2 assists and he looks good for plenty more in the years to come.
Held in very high regard by the Elland Road hierarchy, Clarke is a pacy, skilful and versatile attacker who is capable of playing out wide on either flank and also up front as a striker.
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With his blistering pace, sharpness and agility, he can change games in a matter of minutes and Leeds should secure his long-term future at the earliest.
