Leeds United: Summer exit on the cards for ‘talisman’ Liam Cooper amid ‘difficult’ verdict
Leeds United “talisman” Liam Cooper could make a summer exit after a “difficult” season on a personal level, Paul Robinson has predicted.
The long-serving centre-back has made just 14 Championship appearances this season and currently finds himself behind Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon in the pecking order.
Pascal Struijk is out injured but would also likely be in front of 32-year-old Cooper, who declined a move to Saudi Arabia last summer (The Athletic, 15 October 2023).
Cooper is in his 10th season at Leeds but former Whites keeper Robinson – speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News – thinks it might be his last depending on how willing he is to be back-up.
“I think it would probably come down to the player’s personal choice, I think he’s a player the manager would like to have around,” he said.
“I think he’s been a fantastic servant for the club, the way he’s performed in promotion seasons, the way he’s performed in the Premier League I think he’s a talisman for the club.
“I think he’s the type of player the manager would like to keep in the dressing room regardless of if he’s going to play him every week or not.
“I think it will come down to the player’s want and desire to play regularly. You look at the players Leeds have got now, Rodon and Ampadu the two centre-halves, then arguably Pascal Struijk when fit goes ahead of Liam Cooper now.
“But in a Premier League team, in a Premier League season you’re going to get games. It’s been difficult for him this season, he’s a player who likes to play week in and week out, and he’s a player who plays with rhythm and when he plays consistently he gets better.
“I think it’s hard for a player like him to dip in and out of the side, so if he left I wouldn’t be surprised but on the flip side if he stayed I think he’s a player the manager would want.”
Will Liam Cooper leave Leeds United this summer?
Daniel Farke has done an extraordinary job as Leeds manager and his focus, of course, will be on getting over the line in the race for promotion to the Premier League.
The success of that quest is likely to play a big role in what comes next for Cooper. Farke has already shown there is little room for sentiment when he allowed Luke Ayling to join Middlesbrough on loan in January.
With Cooper, it is difficult to imagine Farke would keep him on if Leeds get promoted, unless he thinks he can offer a wise head in crunch situations.
If Leeds don’t go up, then the player himself might decide to depart anyway as he has been on the periphery this season. Either way, you would imagine Cooper will want to explore his options.
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